Youth migration voices from Africa, along with young journalists and IOM/AU youth ambassador Damilola Adeniran, participated in an online discussion hosted by the Regional United Nations Network on Migration during Migration Week to discuss the role that youth can have in saving migrants’ lives.

“Our concern is the increasingly dangerous routes taken by people. We need to explore ways to deliver on the commitment to establishing pathways for regular migration”, says Naiga Doreen, a young participant and member of the European Union Youth Sounding Board of Uganda.

According to IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, more than 2,500 migrant deaths were recorded in West and Central Africa since 2014. These are the minimum estimates.

“There are thousands of family members, thousands of brothers, sisters, mothers, sons that don't know what happened to their loved ones when they were migrating”, stressed Andrea Garcia Borja, Data Analyst at the IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Center.

For Aishat Dahiru, a young Nigerian participant, “regional cooperation on data collection and border management is essential. Governments in the region need to have more ownership and express stronger commitments to addressing these issues”.

IOM’s Missing Migrants Project highlights the need for more prevention, search and rescue, identification of the victims, and support for the families, among other, as key recommendations in West and Central Africa.

“Prevention, protection, access to health services, and psychosocial support are key. Migration, including irregular migration, cannot be managed by one country alone. So, this needs a regional effort - a joint, multi-country, multi-agency endeavor that covers all migration routes”, confirms Fatuma Muhumed, a youth advocate from Kenya.

Nafissatou Konate, a youth and migration advocate from Mali, urges people on the move to “inform their respective embassy” before or during their journey. She added “Every time someone has an issue, they can always contact their diplomatic representatives, and this may help save lives”.

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) has recognized that well-managed migration can contribute positively to all aspects of economic, environmental, and social development and is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Among the GCM’s 23 Objectives, Objective 8 focuses on saving lives and commits to strengthening efforts to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, including search and rescue and medical care to migrants in need.

“Let our policymakers look at how we can contribute to ensuring that we have peace on the continent, and to the establishment of regular migration pathways together with us, young migrants”, adds Darius Saviour Ankamah, a young Ghanaian participant.

For youth, protecting people on the move and saving lives are a top priority. In addressing the specific challenges in West and Central Africa, the involvement of youth remains crucial. “As most of the people who migrate are young people from Africa, we play a pivotal role as advocates, influencers, and innovators”, emphasizes Naiga Doreen, member of the EU Youth Sounding Board of Uganda.

As put by another young participant and founder of Black Girl's Dream Initiative in Nigeria, Karimot Odebode, “we cannot deny the fact that we can contribute and influence policies. Seeing what the young world leaders are doing, young activists across the region can do so much more. We understand that policies are very important, so is people’s awareness. We can mobilize young people and get them to speak on these issues - and the decision-makers wouldn't have a choice but to listen”.

“Though the existing laws and policies are very important, we should also leverage grassroots communities who can talk to each other, relying on a language that is specific to them”, further adds Cheikh Sy from Senegal.

The event’s participants reiterated the importance of communication and information sharing. As pointed out by Rafiat Atanda, youth advocate and member of the EU Youth Sounding Board in Nigeria, “there's a need to really decolonize language and conversations about migration. The role of young people is also about inclusive and youth-centric strategic communication. It is about framing the content”.

“We all are on platforms. We all have our space of influence, and I think we can be part of that movement, to get the right information out there”, concludes Darius.

Written by Aminata Ndiaye, Communications senior assistant, IOM Regional Office for West and Central Africa.