The first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 17 to 20 May.
The IMRF is the highest-level forum dedicated to reviewing the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration. It meets every four years, and the Forum held this month was the first since the adoption of the Compact in December 2018.
Together with Bangladesh, Spain co-facilitated the United Nations General Assembly resolution that established the arrangements for organising the IMRFs in 2019.
During the four days of the Forum, the international community as a whole (States, international organisations and agencies; national, regional and local institutions; civil society and NGOs, including migrant organisations) had the opportunity to debate, exchange ideas and share best practices regarding the management of contemporary international migration.
The first two days of the Forum were devoted to an interactive debate between States and other migration stakeholders, structured around four round tables covering the Compact's 23 objectives, and concluding with a forward-looking policy debate. The final two days were dedicated to plenary sessions, with contributions from as many as 116 States, which presented their main achievements at national level in implementing the Compact, thereby providing a comprehensive overview of the different migration situations, perspectives and priorities.
The Forum adopted a Progress Declaration on the implementation of the Compact during its first four-year cycle. It reflects progress on the vast majority of the Compact's 23 objectives despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a period of crisis that also presented opportunities by highlighting the particular vulnerabilities of migrants while demonstrating the contribution of migration to the economies of both destination countries (particularly in the primary and tertiary sectors) and countries of origin (as shown by the resilience of remittances). The Declaration calls for continued action in the future, identifying priority areas for attention and making recommendations.
The following outcomes of the Forum's discussions are particularly noteworthy:
- Renewed commitment at the highest level by States to the Global Compact for Migration, its principles and its main objective: to make migration increasingly safe, orderly and regular for migrants and for countries of origin, transit and destination.
- Implementing the Compact is a collective responsibility involving society as a whole (whole-of-society approach) and all levels of government (whole-of-government approach). These principles must be applied more extensively in practice in the future.
- The need to continue combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks, criminal activities that give rise to violations of migrants' human rights. Irregular migration poses challenges for countries of origin, transit and destination alike. Integrated border management must therefore be improved, as an exercise of national sovereignty that must be compatible with international law and international humanitarian law.
- International migration is a natural and structural phenomenon, not a temporary one. More than 280 million people currently live in countries other than those in which they were born. Migration must be managed with due regard for its multidimensional nature and addressed through narratives based on facts rather than prejudice.
- Respect for migrants' human rights and human dignity must be guaranteed in all circumstances, regardless of their legal status. There was unanimous rejection of all forms of racism, xenophobia, intolerance and discrimination, phenomena that must continue to be combated through proactive government policies.
- It is a priority to continue tackling the root causes of involuntary migration increasingly actively and effectively in countries of origin and transit, including the growing effects of climate change on human mobility. Differences in levels of development will remain the main cause of migratory movements. Solidarity between States must be increased, including through contributions to the Compact's Multi-Partner Trust Fund. The aim should be to make migration increasingly voluntary.
- The need to expand and improve legal migration pathways at all levels, not only those relating to skilled and highly skilled migration, where brain drain must be avoided as it can undermine national development efforts in countries of origin. Ensuring decent working conditions, helping to improve education and training in countries of origin, and promoting mutual recognition schemes for professional qualifications and occupational skills can have multiplier effects.
- No State or group of States can respond to all the challenges posed by contemporary migration on its own. International cooperation is therefore essential and irreplaceable.
- The use of jointly agreed common indicators could be a useful tool to help States implement the Compact in the future, while also facilitating the monitoring of its implementation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation coordinated national preparations for the Forum in conjunction with the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and the Ministry of the Interior. During May, a meeting was organised with civil society in accordance with the whole-of-society approach, together with an information meeting for regional and local authorities in accordance with the whole-of-government approach. Regular dialogue was also maintained with the United Nations Network on Migration in Spain, coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The Government of Spain submitted two main contributions to the Forum: an extensive National Report on the Implementation of the Compact during the period 2018–2022 and a Commitments Document for the Compact's next implementation cycle, 2022–2027.
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