ASAC International calls for stronger protections against human trafficking, exploitation and discrimination, emphasizing migrants’ rights and dignity.
Los Ángeles Press
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone.— ASAC International has called on the United States and European governments to reconsider economic policies and trade relationships that contribute to the dependence of African and Latin American economies, warning that limited opportunities are driving young people to seek their futures abroad.
In a statement released Friday, Al-Hassan Gbessay Kanu, vice president of ASAC International, urged governments and international institutions to confront the economic conditions behind youth migration, including unemployment, corruption, insecurity and insufficient investment in education and industry.
The organization, which promotes international cooperation, human rights and sustainable development, argued that countries rich in natural resources continue to lose younger generations whose skills and labor are essential to their economic development.
Kanu placed responsibility on governments in both regions for failing to create conditions that allow young people to build sustainable livelihoods in their home countries.
“We must recognize that governments cannot escape responsibility for the conditions driving migration,” the statement said.
U.S. and European economic policies under scrutiny
ASAC International also directed its appeal toward Washington and European governments, urging them to examine trade arrangements and investment practices that, according to the organization, have reinforced economic dependence in Africa and Latin America.
The statement challenged a longstanding pattern in which developing economies export raw materials while importing manufactured products at substantially higher prices.
According to ASAC, these relationships have allowed wealth and productive capacity to benefit foreign economies without generating sufficient employment and prosperity in the communities where the resources originate.
The organization called for more equitable commercial partnerships, responsible investment and economic policies that strengthen local industries.
Its position places the migration debate within a broader discussion of global economic inequality and the responsibility of industrialized nations in supporting sustainable development.
The statement did not identify specific U.S. trade agreements or government policies for revision.
Jobs, education and migrant protections
ASAC International appealed to the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and national governments to coordinate action in six areas of development and human rights.
The proposals include expanded financing for young entrepreneurs, investment in manufacturing and agriculture, improved infrastructure and energy systems, and stronger technical education and workforce training.
The organization also urged governments to promote fair trade agreements, combat human trafficking and labor exploitation, protect migrants from discrimination and strengthen democratic institutions.
Kanu emphasized that migration remains a legitimate individual choice and acknowledged the contributions of African and Latin American diaspora communities to both their countries of origin and the nations where they have settled.
His concern, according to the statement, is that economic hardship and limited prospects are leaving many young people with few viable alternatives to departure.
The proposals were presented as an appeal for international cooperation. ASAC International did not announce a funding commitment, implementation timetable or agreement with the governments and institutions it addressed.
A call for measurable action
Kanu urged political leaders to move beyond declarations and establish policies capable of producing measurable improvements in employment, economic development and opportunities for young people.
He also warned that the continued departure of younger generations could weaken the long-term development prospects of countries already struggling with unemployment, institutional shortcomings and economic dependence.
The statement concluded with a call to make migration a matter of personal choice rather than economic necessity.
“We must build an Africa and a Latin America where migration is a choice, not a necessity,” Kanu said.