The Peoples’ Global Action (PGA)

We are glad to inform you that the 2009 Peoples’ Global Action (PGA) website is now available at this link http://www.mfasia.org/peoplesglobalaction/index.html. The website is available in four languages – English, French, Spanish and Greek. Please note that the site is still a work in progress.

The Peoples’ Global Action (PGA) is an independent civil society event designed to monitor and influence the 3rd Global Forum on Migration and Development to be held from 2-5 November 2009 in Athens, Greece. Given the restrictive nature of the GFMD to the participation of CSOs and the need to provide an open space for discussion, debate and to strengthen analysis on the current migration and development discourse, the PGA has become an important platform for CSOs in monitoring the GFMD process.

Building up from the previous parallel events which started during the United Nations High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development, the PGA has been an important event for CSOs that have been monitoring the GFMD.

The first GFMD parallel held in Brussels, Belgium, in July 2007 was entitled “Global Community Forum on Migration, Development and Human Rights.” This community forum brought together more than 200 civil society participants from around the globe who collectively raised concerns about the GFMD process as well as key principles and issues that need to be addressed.

In 2008, on the occasion of the 2nd GFMD in Manila, Philippines, CSOs from around the globe again came together for another parallel event dubbed as the Peoples’ Global Action on Migration, Development and Human Rights (PGA) aimed at providing an inclusive space for civil society organizations to gather, reflect and strategize on issues around migration, human rights, globalization and development. The PGA brought together around 4,000 people from various CSOs primarily migrant communities and migrants’ rights groups, trade unions, human rights advocates, and grassroots organizations. After the 2008 PGA, participating CSOs committed to bring PGA in Athens to continue the struggle in pushing for a human rights perspective around migration and development.

This year, as governments meet in Athens, Migrants Rights International (MRI), Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), the International Working Group (IWG) together with local groups in Athens, are again organizing the PGA. In light of the current global financial crisis, this year’s PGA will center on how the crisis has affected the migrants’ communities.

As CSOs working on the promotion and protection of migrants’ rights, we would like to invite you to take part in this year’s Peoples’ Global Action. For updates, kindly visit the website which will be updated regularly as new information comes in.


Courage, Peace, Power in a Life full of meaning.


William Gois
Regional Coordinator
Migrant Forum in Asia
85-C Masikap Extension
CentralDistrict, Quezon City
Migrant Forum in Asia
85-C Masikap Extension, Central District
Diliman, Quezon City 1100 Philippines