𝐀𝐌𝐎’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐔 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐍𝐎

𝐀𝐌𝐎’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐔 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐍𝐎𝐃𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚

H.E. Amb. Namira Negm (Dr), Director of the African Migration Observatory (AMO) held a joint meeting with H.E Amb.Carl Hallergard, Head of the EU Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna and UNODC in Vienna on 23 May. The meeting discussed avenues for strengthening cooperation with the EU and UNODC for enhancing continental migration data, particularly within the framework of the International Classification for Administrative Data on Trafficking in Persons, endorsed by the UN statistical Commission.

AMO’s Director and the EU Ambassador confirmed the importance of the meeting convening within the context of the follow up on the AU-EU Joint Communique of the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels on 21 May which reaffirmed “enhanced and reciprocal partnership for migration and mobility”. EU- AU Ministers underscored “enhancing cooperation in matters of migration in the framework of the AU-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue (MMD) and in coordination with AU migration organs/mechanisms including the African Migration Observatory in Morocco, the African Centre for the Study and Research on Migration in Mali and the Continental Operational Centre in Sudan” and reaffirmed the commitment to “combat smuggling and human trafficking, with a strong focus on prevention”. AMO stressed the critical role of migration data and knowledge to comprehend prevailing patterns to strengthen cooperation to prevent and combat trafficking.

AMO’s Director highlighted the mandate of AMO in enhancing continental migration data and governance. She emphasized AMO’s training activities on enhancing migration data conducted with AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities, in addition to thematic workshops. She highlighted AMO’s efforts to establish regional migration data hubs, initiated with a pilot project in cooperation with IOM in the Arab Maghreb Union.  She underscored various AMO activities focused on migration and health, climate mobility and the nexus of migration, security and conflict.

EU Ambassador confirmed migration as one of the top priorities for EU cooperation, highlighting the need for calmer thinking on migration issues, stressing the significance of migration data and analysis to deliver clarity on needed policy actions and planning. He referred to the significant numbers of Africans ending in further destinations in human trafficking routes as per the UNODC 2024 Report and the need for information to guide policies.
The meeting discussed initiatives for joint activities on continental training to enhance migration data for AU Member States and advancing cooperation subsequent to AM0’s participation in the AU- EU MDD Senior Official Meeting in Lisbon last October.