Social Justice in an Open World: The Role of the United Nations
The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its two protocols on human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants were adopted in 2000. There appears to be less opposition to international cooperation in this domain. The most elaborate normative text concerning international migration is incorporated in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo in September 1994. The authors of this non-binding text advocate the notion of "orderly international migration" (para. 10.1) and encourage "more cooperation and dialogue between countries of origin and countries of destination" (para. 10.2 (b)). It is emphasized that people should have the viable option of remaining in their countries of birth. The Commission on Population and Development is responsible for the follow-up of the Programme of Action, but the last time international migration was on the agenda of this Commission, its members were unable to reach a consensus on the need for meaningful debate. The United Nations Millennium Declaration includes some reminders of the human rights of migrants and exhortations to address "increasing acts of racism and xenophobia" and to promote "greater harmony and tolerance in all societies" (Commitment 4, para. (e)).However, migration issues do not constitute an integral part of this Declaration, which essentially focuses on the reduction of poverty-a central goal within both the United Nations system and the international community. International cooperation in matters relating to asylum-seekers and refugees is governed by the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and there have been some difficulties with the implementation of these legal instruments. Except with regard to the often blurred distinction between economic migrants and asylum-seekers, the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons fell outside the scope of the Forum's discussions. Discussions relating to the present thematic focus prompted the following questions: Is there an ideal normative framework that could orient international cooperation and be used as a reference point in assessing the validity of ideas and policies concerning the movement of people across borders? 0
Could an orderly regime for international migrants be based on the principle of subsidiariw whereby international and global organizations would perform only those functions that could not be assumed at the local, regional and national levels? Could international cooperation play a role, either directly or indirectly, in fostering cohesiveness and a greater openness to international migrants within and