Symposium Highlights Increasing Number of Young Migrants

NEW YORK – UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake has highlighted the increasingly important issue of young people’s migration at an international symposium held at UNICEF House.

“Today more people are on the move than in any previous time in our history. Approximately 214 million people – three per cent of the world’s population – now are living outside their countries of origin. Of these, about 35 million are between the ages of ten and 24,” Mr. Lake said in his opening remarks.

The Global Migration Group Symposium, which consists of 15 United Nations agencies as well as the International Organization for Migration is meeting in New York for two days.

“It’s an increasingly important issue, one of those issues which we know is hugely important, that affects our lives, all of us in many different ways and yet it doesn’t get the attention I believe that it deserves,” Mr. Lake said.

To address this, the symposium has brought together a wide range of experts whose focus is how to protect the rights of emigrant young people and increase their ability to make the most of their lives. The symposium is being held in conjunction with the UN General Assembly’s informal debate on international migration and development.

Read the full story by Chris Niles on the UNICEF website
Read the statement of UNFPA Executive Director
Hear from a young person on this issue