2009 Human Development Report:
“Overcoming Barriers: Human mobility and development”

Global Launch: Monday, 5 October 2009, 03:00 GMT
Local Launch: to be announced

EMBARGOED MEDIA WEBSITE NOW AVAILABLE

We live in a highly mobile world, where migration is not only inevitable but also an important dimension of human development. Nearly one billion – or one out of seven – people are migrants. The 2009 Human Development Report demonstrates that migration can improve the lives of millions of people: the ones who move those in destination communities and others that remain at home.

The findings in this Report cast new light on some common misconceptions on migration, proposing a series of migration policies that can allow migration – both within and between countries – to increase people’s freedom and improve the lives of millions around the world.
Journalists will be able to access the HDR 2009 online from Monday, Sept 28 onwards:
• Embargoed HDR Media site: http://hdr.undp.org/hdr4press/
• You will be asked to register and will then receive an email with your password.
• The Report is strictly embargoed until 03.00 GMT October 5th.

For media enquiries, please contact: Ms. Aminath Ibrahim, 3343285, [email protected] or Mr. Mohamed Yasir, 3343227, [email protected]

About the HDR: Since 1990, the Human Development Reports have been helping frame debates on some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity, from climate change to human rights. It is an independent report commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Jeni Klugman is the lead author of the 2009 report. http://hdr.undp.org

About Human Development: Human Development is the expansion of the freedoms that people have to live their lives as they choose. This conception – inspired by the path-breaking work of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and the leadership of Mahbub ul Haq, and known also as the capabilities approach because of its emphasis on the freedom that people have to achieve vital ‘beings and doings’ – has been at the core of UNDP’s approach since the first Human Development Report in 1990, and is as relevant as ever to the design of effective policies to combat poverty and deprivation. This approach has proved powerful in reshaping thinking about topics as diverse as gender, human security and climate change.

About UNDP: UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners. www.undp.org