"Indonesia has delivered its national statement emphasizing three aspects, the first being, protection of the rights of all migrants, including migrant workers, without having to consider their status," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi noted here on Tuesday.
Indonesia was elected as one of the vice-presidents of the Asia-Pacific region at the United Nations (UN) summit to ratify the Global Agreement on Migration held on December 10-11, 2018, in Marrakech, Morocco.
On the occasion, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marsudi was also entrusted with leading a plenary session at the conference that ratifies a historic agreement on migration governance.
Foreign Minister Marsudi stressed that protection of migrant rights held significance, regardless of their status.
Hence, mechanisms to provide assistance and protection for migrants must be established, including through bilateral and regional agreements.
"This is important, so that migrants, regardless of regular or non-regular, are offered protection," she reiterated.
In addition, the Indonesian foreign minister emphasized the importance of migration in development, wherein remittances sent by migrants can improve the living standards of their families and support development, both in the countries of origin and destination.
According to Marsudi, migrants are the agents of development that contribute significantly in supporting the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Hence, the Global Compact on Migration (GCM) is expected to serve as a guide in advancing and protecting the rights of migrants, especially migrant workers.
Furthermore, at the conference, the Indonesian government affirmed the importance of synergy at the national, regional, and global levels to ensure the effective implementation of the GCM.
"Indonesia is pushing for synergies between national and regional policies and policies taken by the United Nations," the minister remarked.
The conference was attended by more than 13 heads of state and government, UN secretary general, and 117 ministerial-level officials from 130 countries.
Reporting by Yuni Arisandy
Editing by Azis Kurmala, Suharto
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
