Facing the persistence of irregular migration among young people, the International Commission on Human Rights, Funds and Relief (IHRC-RFT) organized, on Thursday, January 29, 2025, in Dakar, a strategic seminar focused on the theme “Youth, migration and local opportunities: staying and building resilient futures”. The initiative is part of the national dynamic for the implementation of the National Strategy to Combat Irregular Migration (SNLMI) and aims to strengthen structural responses to a phenomenon with major human, economic and social consequences.
Bringing together representatives of the State, technical and financial partners, migration experts, civil society actors and young leaders, the meeting provided an operational dialogue space around the root causes of irregular emigration and credible alternatives to be built on the national territory. The discussions highlighted the need to move beyond exclusively security-focused approaches to prioritize solutions based on employment, training, entrepreneurship and local investment.
Several thematic panels structured the work. The first analyzed the aspirations, disillusionments and risks associated with irregular migration journeys, while the second focused on local economic opportunities in Senegal, their current limitations and their scaling prospects. Group work then identified barriers to the socio-professional integration of young people, formulated concrete avenues to strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation, and proposed actions to revalue the image of “local success”.
In his opening speech, the Executive Director of IHRC-RFT recalled that over 60% of the Senegalese population is under 25 years old, making youth both a challenge and a strategic lever for development. He emphasized that irregular migration, often seen as a way out in the face of a lack of opportunities, leads to serious violations of human rights and avoidable social tragedies. The response, he insisted, lies in creating attractive and inclusive local opportunities, capable of retaining talent and stimulating sustainable growth.
IHRC-RFT called for enhanced mobilization of governments, international donors and the private sector around four priorities: investment in education and vocational training, promotion of youth entrepreneurship, protection of migrants’ rights, and strengthening of international cooperation in support of territorial development.
Through this seminar, IHRC-RFT reaffirms its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and positions the fight against irregular migration as a governance, stability and economic attractiveness issue, calling for sustainable partnerships to build resilient futures in Senegal.
