In a bid to address all dimensions of international migration through a common approach, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has convened a two-day Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
Heads of State and Governments, private sector and civil society participants, among others are expected at the conference which opens in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.
The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is expected to be the first, inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the UN to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner.
The conference presents significant opportunity to improve governance on migration to address challenges associated with today’s migration and strengthen the contributions of migrants and migration to sustainable development.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Heads of State and Governments came together for the first time on Sept. 19, 2016, to discuss, at the global level within the UN General Assembly, issues related to migration and refugees.
This sent an important political message that migration and refugee matters had become major issues in the international agenda.
In adopting the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants at that forum, the 193 UN member-states recognised the need for a comprehensive approach to human mobility and enhanced cooperation at the global level.
They committed to protect the safety, dignity and human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migratory status, and at all times.
They also resolved to support countries rescuing, receiving and hosting large numbers of refugees and migrants, in humanitarian and development assistance frameworks and planning, combat xenophobia, racism and discrimination toward all migrants;.
They agreed to develop, through a state-led process, non-binding principles and voluntary guidelines on the treatment of migrants in vulnerable situations.
They further resolved to strengthen global governance of migration, including by bringing International Organisation on Migration into the UN family and through the development of a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
The Global Compact is framed consistent with target 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in which member-states committed to cooperate internationally to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration and its scope is defined in Annex II of the New York Declaration.
It is intended to address all aspects of international migration, including the humanitarian, developmental, human rights-related and other aspects.
It is also aimed at making an important contribution to global governance and enhance coordination on international migration, among others.
The Global Compact was developed through an open, transparent and inclusive process of consultations and negotiations and the effective participation of all relevant stakeholders.
They include civil society, the private sector, academic institutions, parliaments, diaspora communities, and migrant organisations.
The Global Compact acknowledges the need for stronger cooperation to better manage international migration for the benefit of all communities.
It provides an important breakthrough to address the challenges of human mobility grounded in national sovereignty and values of responsibility sharing, non-discrimination and human rights.
It also recognises the vulnerabilities faced by migrants and addresses ways in which everyone, including migrants, host societies, private sector, NGOs, and governments at all levels – can keep migrants safe.
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