Migration Requires Cooperation among Governments, Secretary-General Says, Welcoming Agreement on Text of Global Compact as ‘Shared Understanding’
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary‑General António Guterres:
The Secretary‑General welcomes the successful conclusion, today at United Nations Headquarters, of the intergovernmental negotiations on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
Firmly rooted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the commitments made in the New York Declaration, this will be the first global agreement designed to better manage international migration in all its dimensions, for the benefit of all States and communities, and with the rights of all migrants at the fore.
Agreement on the text of the Global Compact is a significant achievement. It reflects the shared understanding by Governments that cross‑border migration is, by its very nature, an international phenomenon, and that effective management of this global reality requires international cooperation to enhance its positive impact for all. It also recognizes that every individual has the right to safety, dignity and protection.
This comprehensive framework comprises a range of objectives, actions and avenues for implementation, follow‑up and review, all aimed at facilitating safe, orderly and regular migration, while reducing the incidence and impact of irregular migration.
The Secretary‑General commends the able stewardship of the Permanent Representatives of Mexico and Switzerland to the United Nations for bringing about today’s agreement under the aegis of the President of the General Assembly.
The Global Compact will be formally adopted by Heads of State and Government at an intergovernmental conference on 10‑11 December 2018 in Marrakesh, Morocco. The Secretary‑General looks forward to attending this historic conference and to working with the entire United Nations System in supporting Member States to implement the Global Compact to make migration work for all.