Speaking at the GMDS in Geneva
France, acting as the 2022-2023 Chair of the Global Forum on Migration and Development is set to host the 14th Summit of the GFMD in Geneva from 23 to 25 January 2024. This high-level event, marking the conclusion of the French Chairmanship of the GFMD, will be hosted at the Geneva International Conference Centre. I have been asked to give an artist talk about and present my “Portraits of Resilience” work.
Portraits of Resilience features photographs of survivors of torture from around the world who fled their home countries seeking safety, recovery, and political asylum. Most participating survivors were tortured by repressive governments for reasons varying from joining oppositional political parties to criticising their governments, being related to a political dissident or because of their religion or sexual orientation.
The programme of the Summit, including roundtable discussions, thematic meetings and exhibitions, tech and innovation spaces, as well as cultural events, will revolve around the central theme of “the impact of climate change on human mobility.” This will cover everything from rights and migration to diasporas, and multi-level governance of migration.
The idea of creating a global consultative forum on Migration and Development was proposed by Mr. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) in 2006. The GFMD has since remained as the largest informal, non-binding, voluntary and government-led process, bringing together expertise from all regions and countries at all stages of economic, social and political development. Since its inception, the GFMD has operated on the basis of a unique participative working method, involving governments and policy makers from a varied background. Policy-makers from a wide range of government agencies participate, including from Ministries and Departments of Immigration, Development, Labor, Foreign Affairs, Gender Equality, Home Affairs, Justice, Interior, Integration and Nationals Abroad.
