During the first week of the month of December 2007, the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch (PMRW) in association with Stella Maris InternationalService Center, Scalabrini International MigrationNetwork (SIMN) Taiwan, the Dpiscopal Commission for Migrants and Itinerant People of Taiwan (DCMI), and Taiwan International Workers’ Association (TIWA) convened an International Conference on Globalization and Human Rights of Migrants, in Taipei Taiwan. The Conference was attended by about four hundred interested bodies from educational institutions, governments, NGOs and the media. It was an appropriate venue to discuss issues related to the real situationof migrants in the South-Dast Asia region, especially in Taiwan.

Some of the major themes vigorously presented, debated and reflected upon were the guest workers scheme and the marriage broker system in Taiwan. It is said that Taiwan hosts 360,000 migrant workers, as well as 390,000 marriage migrants bringing about an increasing population of 200,000 children out of immigrant brides. These are some issues that require receiving countries, as well as a more nuanced understanding by the academe, and more coherent policy initiatives at the national, regional, and international levels. A selected group of scholars and observers were tasked topresent a clearer picture of globalization and international migration, specifically on some issues in the Asian migration reality.

One of the highlights of the opening session was the presentation of Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. He elaborated on some ethical effects of the current policy making components, the integration policy and the up-to-date migration and development discussion. Archbishop Tomasi stressed on the need to have a solid
ethical framework that canevolve into a juridical framework for the common good of nations and migrants.

Jerrold Wayne Huguet, consultant of the United Nations Dconomic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (DSCAP) presented and analyzed some statistical data on migration. His presentation pointed to the fact that migration, especially in the Asian region, is an increasing reality. The faces of migration may be changing (feminization) but there is a close link between migration and the social and economic development of many Asian nations.

Professor Graziano Battistela, C.S from Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI) Rome, elaborated on the Temporary Migration Systems and Human Rights. It was clear from his talk that empowerment of migrant workers can no longer be a noble herald to raise the public’s opinion but is now a challenge that has to be critically assessed as the flows of migrants continue to increase. According to Prof. Battistela, ‘Migrantswithnegotiatingpowers are migrants who can be protected’. Unfortunately, the disparity between protection for highly skilled migrants and low skilled migrants will continue making the latter more vulnerable.

Dr. Maruja Asis from the Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC) Philippines discussed some scorching issues in the South-Dast Asian region such as migration regimes, legal and unauthorized migration and human trafficking. Concerns that are still on the road for more action are in the fields of investigation, lobbying, and concretization in the law system of each country.

The second day of the conference was a funnel reaction of the first day’s discussions. All the speakers addressed their views and studies on the international situation of migration in Taiwan. Representatives from the Taiwan Council of Labor Affairs (CLA), Department of Sociology of National Taiwan University and Migrants Dmpowerment Network assessed from their own stands the fifteen-year experience of Taiwan’s Migrant Worker Policy. It was highlighted that after 15 years of practice, the migratory policies in Taiwan have only been responding to the economic effects but not to the social and population concerns.

During the last day of the conference, the discussions became more enlivened. The marriage broker system, guest worker scheme, and some other particular issues still in need of further clarification in the law system were heartily and heatedly debated. The passionate participation of the audience interacting with the speakers of the day that included the representatives from Minister of Interior (MOI), National Chin Nan University, and the Secretary of Taiwan International Family Association, provoked a mood of awareness of the need for a clearer legislation. The concluding remarks were made by Fr. Fabio Baggio CS, Director of Scalabrini Migration Center, (SMC) Philippines. He framed his conclusions under what he coined as Unsustainable paradoxes, some of which are worth synthesizing:

From an economic perspective, the disparity between those who benefit from the globalized market and the protection of the workers themselves is more than evident. From a legal perspective, the tendency of promoting migration and competition for migrant workers tend to ignore -and even to deny- the real protection required for all people crossing borders. From a political perspective, the discrepancy between international and national regulation on migration policy tend to fail in addressing a more coherent practice. In the ethical field, the tendencies of some countries to care only for their own nationals fail to address in their policies the protection of migrants who actively contribute to the economic development of the receiving nations. A clear example of this is the increasing number of international marriages which are inevitably creating intercultural societies.

At the end of the conference, PMRW as an active advocate of the welfare of Filipino migrants voiced out that one of the major unsustainable paradoxes is the very little or lack of well-intended initiatives from Governments to enhance more good political practices that take into account the common good of all the agents involved in any migratory movement.

The challenges are many; the good will of those working in favor of all migrants is enkindled. It is now time to continue the healthy dialogue among civil society, governments, NGOs and the public and private sectors on these issues, so that we all work for the betterment of people, regardless nationalities.

The Conference was made possible through the sponsorships of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Council for Labor Affairs of Taiwan, and PMRW.