Distinguished Delegates,

I have the pleasure to address you today on behalf of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, the Executive Director of UNFPA.

Today about 1 in 8 migrants are young people between the ages of 15 and 24, totaling 27 million. Yet despite their large numbers, young migrants are largely invisible in debates and policies on international migration. And not much is known about them.

This is why in the few minutes I have, I would like to make two points. The first is that we need to improve the data on youth migration. And the second is that we need to listen to what young migrants have to say about their needs and situation.

Let me start with data. One cannot stress enough the importance of reliable, timely and comparable data to inform discussions and to formulate policies that will maximize the benefits of migration for those who migrate and their countries of origin and destination.

Age and sex-disaggregated migration data are essential for evidence-based policy dialogue, development planning and programme formulation.

But while we analyze the numbers, we must remember that behind every migration statistic is a human face. A face full of hope for a better tomorrow. And this is never more so than in the face of a young migrant.

Each young person migrates for different reasons: to chase her/his dreams or to escape misery; as part of a rite of passage, to search for a better life in a new land, to get an advanced education, to get married, or to find a better job. Others leave to escape poverty, persecution, war, or gender biases. Each person has a different story. And the stories of migrant girls are particularly poignant.

Today, I would like to share with you the stories of three young migrant girls – Kakenya, Noraida and Natalia – stories that we documented just a few years ago.

Kakenya comes from a small village in Kenya with no running water or electricity and an adobe hut made of straw and manure. Promised in marriage at age 5 to a boy aged 6, her life was decided for her: get married, have children, take care of the cows, and work the land. Her mother wished her daughter’s life could be different and urged her to get an education. So Kakenya studied hard. One day, a neighbor who studied in the U.S. visited the village and Kakenya was fascinated by his stories. Her dream eventually came true when she enrolled in college in the United States. Her second dream has also come true: She has set up a school in Kenya to educate girls and women to be what they want to be without having to leave home.

The second story comes from Noraida from the Philippines, where by age eight, she had dropped out of school and played in the streets. When she was 13, she migrated abroad to be a domestic worker and would travel home and back thrice. While the first two times were good experiences, with kind employers and remittances sent back home, the third time, was different: she worked day and night, and nothing seemed to please the lady of the house. Exploited and verbally and physically abused, Noraida tried to escape. Eventually, she did leave and came home, bruised and empty-handed.

The third story comes from Natalia, who was a young bride when she was sold by her own husband to traffickers. The trafficking route took her across various national borders where she suffered from exploitation and abuse. Eventually, after landing in a hospital and undergoing several operations, she went home. Her father and brothers, who beat her when she was younger, did not want to talk to her. She slept in the park until she found a job. Then someone told her about a shelter for trafficked victims where she went to recover from her physical and psychological wounds. She has told her story to leave it behind her, and to make sure that it doesn’t happen to other girls.

Each of these stories gives us insights into the different realities young migrants especially girls are facing. By listening to young migrants’ trials and tribulations and involving them in decision-making, countries can address their needs in policies and programmes.

To move this vision forward, UNFPA is supporting data collection and analysis, research, institutional capacity building, and youth participation so countries can better respond to migrants’ needs. We are also supporting reproductive health services, which are especially important for migrants who face neglect, abuse, exploitation and trafficking.

In today’s world, with greater access to information and communication, especially the Internet, young people are more aware of the opportunities they lack at home and the possibilities abroad. And if necessary, they will cross oceans, in precarious boats, or hot deserts, hidden in cars, to create a better life for themselves and in the long run, for their families. Many of them will leave with few belongings, but they will take with them their youth, along with resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance.

To harness opportunities for development, the voices of young migrants must be heard so that policies and programmes can be developed to maximize the benefits of migration for those who migrate and for their countries of origin and destination.

Thank you.