Lack of economic opportunity is substantial driver of migration: New Zealand

Lack of economic opportunity is a substantial driver of migration, said Charles Flanagan, minister for foreign affairs and trade of New Zealand on Saturday.

To provide those opportunities, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out an approach that involves investment in health, education, sanitation and other basic services, said Flanagan while addressing a UN General Assembly (GA) high-level debate.

Last year, world leaders adopted the 2030 sustainable development agenda which outlines 17 SDGs to guide the world to work together to end poverty, promote prosperity, and combat climate change by the year 2030.

On refugee and migrant issues, Flanagan said long-term action on underlying causes must be complemented by urgent steps to address the daily suffering arising from the refugee and migrant crisis.

"Determined implementation of these goals will enable us to address many of the root causes of mass migration," he noted.

This year's high-level GA debate which runs through Sept. 26 has gathered over 140 world leaders here in New York on a variety of issues, ranging from sustainable development, counter terrorism, and refugee and migrant crises. Enditem