JUBA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the South Sudanese government, began a three-day meeting here on Tuesday, with the UN migration agency pledging to support the government in improving its migration framework to foster economic growth.
The Third Inter-Ministerial Summit on Migration Governance aims to strengthen coordination among government ministries to develop a unified approach to migration governance that promotes sustainable development and social cohesion.
"We are committed to supporting the government of South Sudan in its efforts to establish a unified migration governance framework," Asar Muhammad, head of operations for IOM South Sudan, was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the UN migration agency.
The event brought together high-level representatives from government ministries, international partners, civil society and academia.
According to the IOM, migration has affected several sectors in South Sudan, including health, labor, education and security. The country faces various challenges, such as refugee inflows, internal displacement due to conflict, climate-induced migration and labor migration, which place significant pressure on South Sudan's institutions and resources.
South Sudan's Minister of Interior Angelina Teny said that "South Sudan recognizes migration as a positive phenomenon. Therefore, the country has established legal frameworks to enhance migration governance."
During the meeting, delegates focused on developing a national migration strategy aligned with regional and global frameworks. They worked to strengthen the migration governance framework by identifying legal, institutional, and operational gaps and promoting migration-related policies across relevant ministries.
