On Wednesday, Mayor Claudia López Hernández actively took part in the 'Migrants, Refugees, and Societies' event, organized by the World Bank in collaboration with Universidad del Rosario.
During this gathering, the World Bank presented the findings of the World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies. Additionally, the event served as an opportunity to discuss its implications for Colombia, considering that our country is the largest recipient of the Venezuelan population in the world and has recently become a transit zone for individuals heading north on the continent.
The report highlights how many countries increasingly rely on migration to realize their long-term growth potential. It also identifies unique opportunities for migrants, refugees, and societies to thrive and reach their fullest potential.
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During the report presentation, the Mayor called for action with two specific requests: for globalization to not only be financial but also human, and for a "new deal" on human mobility and climate response for our continent.
"The Americas are the most democratic region in the world, with the highest level of multilateralism and numerous convergences. Political stability depends on investing in job opportunities for women and young people. It's time to move from rhetoric to action by making concrete investments in education and employment," stated Claudia López during her intervention. She further explained, "The time has come to forge a new pact, a plan for the Americas because this challenge is not limited to Bogotá or Colombia alone. It's time to create a new deal for human mobility and climate change in the Americas."
The Mayor emphasized that there is an urgent need for a clear and explicit proposal from the United States government: "President Joe Biden has touched upon it to some extent in the Summit of the Americas meeting with heads of state, both last year in Los Angeles and this year at the Mayors' Summit in Denver. It needs to be explicitly put forward," she asserted. She also highlighted that "the economic, climate, and political stability of the United States government and all governments in the Americas depend on this new deal for human mobility and climate change."
The World Bank report highlights how populations worldwide are aging at an unprecedented rate, leading many countries to increasingly rely on migration to realize their long-term growth potential. The report identifies this trend as a unique opportunity to harness migration's potential contributions to economies and individuals.
