Inclusion Will Ensure Common Ownership of Global Compact, Deputy Secretary-General Tells Event on Strengthening Cooperation, Governance of Migration

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s closing remarks at the International Dialogue on Strengthening International Cooperation on and Governance of Migration towards the Adoption of a Global Compact on Migration in 2018, in New York today:

I am really honoured to be with you to conclude this International Dialogue.  I thank the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for hosting this discussion of such an important topic here in New York, just months after we welcomed the Organization into the United Nations family.

With migration high on the global agenda, we really are at a watershed moment.  It is imperative that we strengthen international cooperation on how migration will be addressed.  The New York Declaration provides a new commitment, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides the framework for action.  The promise of the 2030 Agenda is that no one is left behind.  So, it is critical that we move towards the development and adoption of a global compact in 2018 on safe, orderly and regular migration.

This is also a commitment of the 2030 Agenda, in particular our target 10.7.  The global compact should, therefore, be framed in a way that is consistent with, and supportive of, the migration elements of the 2030 Agenda.  In practice, this is going to mean that one of the objectives of the global compact should be to provide us with a practical road map on how to achieve target 10.7.  It should also bring together the means to implement other important frameworks relevant to migration, including Sendai, Addis, Quito and Samoa.

This road map should be based on three principles:  the first is that it should be based on international standards, including those related to the rights of migrants; second, given the complexity of migration, it should stress the importance of adopting a comprehensive whole-of-Government approach when working towards target 10.7; and third, it needs to be evidence-based.

Migration is a significant socioeconomic issue that will only grow in significance over the next few years.  Regrettably, current debates on migration are often heavily politicized and increasingly pervaded by xenophobia.  That is why the United Nations has launched the “Together” campaign to promote respect, safety and dignity for everyone that is forced to flee their homes in search of a better life.  One of the greatest challenges for those who seek to foster rational debate and the formulation of balanced policy on migration is to construct an evidence-based platform from which to work.

A key challenge in working towards the facilitation of safe, orderly and regular migration, will be to balance the interests of both origin and destination countries.  To this end, the global compact on migration should seek to foster stronger partnerships, genuine partnerships, between States on this issue.  The premise needs to be that migration is a potential benefit to all parties that are involved.

Finally, in all our deliberations we need to take into account the diverse regional perspectives and various realities of migration through an inclusive and transparent consultation process.  The contribution and participation of all relevant actors from the global migration landscape in developing the global compact and forging a strong consensus will ensure that the outcome is owned by all stakeholders, including migrants themselves.

As I said earlier, no one should be left behind.