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Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, adopted on September 19 2016 by 193 UN Member States at the General Assembly, recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to migration which led to the elaboration of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic manner. While not legally binding, the Global Compact for Migration respects States’ sovereignty and encourages international cooperation, offering a unique avenue for governance enhancement, addressing challenges, and empowering migrants in sustainable development. Aligned with the 2030 Agenda, the Global Compact for Migration corresponds to SDG Target 10.7, promoting international collaboration for safe, orderly, and regular migration. The Global Compact for Migration represents a significant step towards a more organized and beneficial global migration landscape, harnessing migration's potential for positive transformation.

1. Data

Collect and utilize accurate and disaggregated data as a basis for evidence-based policies
Commitment
“We commit to strengthen the global evidence base on international migration by improving and investing in the collection, analysis and dissemination of accurate, reliable, comparable data, disaggregated by sex, age, migration status and other characteristics relevant in national contexts, while upholding the right to privacy under international human rights law and protecting personal data. We further commit to ensure this data fosters research, guides coherent and evidence-based policy-making and well-informed public discourse, and allows for effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of commitments over time.”

Related Data Sources

  • Internal displacement: Conflict and disaster induced (IDMC) Types of Migration
  • International migrant stock (DESA) Migration Statistics
  • SDG Indicator 10.7.2 on migration policies (DESA & IOM) Migration and Policy
  • Ratification of 18 International Human Rights Treaties (OHCHR) Migration and Policy
  • 2. Minimize adverse drivers

    Minimize the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their country of origin
    Commitment
    “We commit to create conductive political, economic, social and environmental conditions for people to lead peaceful, productive and sustainable lives in their own country and to fulfill their personal aspirations, while ensuring that desperation and deteriorating environments do not compel them to seek a livelihood elsewhere through irregular migration. We further commit to ensure timely and full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as to build upon and invest in the implementation of other existing frameworks, in order to enhance the overall impact of the Global Compact to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Internal displacement: Conflict and disaster induced (IDMC) Types of Migration
  • Refugee and asylum seeker statistics (UNHCR) Types of Migration
  • 3. Information provision

    Provide accurate and timely information at all stages of migration
    Commitment
    “We commit to strengthen our efforts to provide, make available and disseminate accurate, timely, accessible, and transparent information on migration-related aspects for and between States, communities and migrants at all stages of migration. We further commit to use this information to develop migration policies that provide a high degree of predictability and certainty for all actors involved.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Internal displacement: Conflict and disaster induced (IDMC) Types of Migration
  • International migrant stock (DESA) Migration Statistics
  • 4. Legal identity and documentation

    Ensure that all migrants have proof of legal identity and adequate documentation
    Commitment
    “We commit to fulfil the right of all individuals to a legal identity by providing all our nationals with proof of nationality and relevant documentation, allowing national and local authorities to ascertain a migrant’s legal identity upon entry, during stay, and for return, as well as to ensure effective migration procedures, efficient service provision, and improved public safety. We further commit to ensure, through appropriate measures, that migrants are issued adequate documentation and civil registry documents, such as birth, marriage and death certificates, at all stages of migration, as a means to empower migrants to effectively exercise their human rights.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Refugee and asylum seeker statistics (UNHCR) Types of Migration
  • 5. Regular pathways

    Enhance availability and flexibility of pathways for regular migration
    Commitment
    “We commit to adapt options and pathways for regular migration in a manner that facilitates labour mobility and decent work reflecting demographic and labour market realities, optimizes education opportunities, upholds the right to family life, and responds to the needs of migrants in a situation of vulnerability, with a view to expanding and diversifying availability of pathways for safe, orderly and regular migration.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Refugee and asylum seeker statistics (UNHCR) Types of Migration
  • SDG Indicator 10.7.2 on migration policies (DESA & IOM) Migration and Policy
  • Labour migration statistics (ILO) Types of Migration Vulnerabilities
  • Number of internationally mobile students (inbound and outbound) (UNESCO) Types of Migration
  • 6. Recruitment and decent work

    Facilitate fair and ethical recruitment and safeguard conditions that ensure decent work
    Commitment
    “We commit to review existing recruitment mechanisms to guarantee that they are fair and ethical, and to protect all migrant workers against all forms of exploitation and abuse in order to guarantee decent work and maximize the socioeconomic contributions of migrants in both their countries of origin and destination.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Labour migration statistics (ILO) Types of Migration Vulnerabilities
  • 7. Reduce vulnerabilities

    Address and reduce vulnerabilities in migration
    Commitment
    “We commit to respond to the needs of migrants who face situations of vulnerability, which may arise from the circumstances in which they travel or the conditions they face in countries of origin, transit and destination, by assisting them and protecting their human rights, in accordance with our obligations under international law. We further commit to uphold the best interests of the child at all times, as a primary consideration in situations where children are concerned, and to apply a gender-responsive approach in addressing vulnerabilities, including in responses to mixed movements.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Internal displacement: Conflict and disaster induced (IDMC) Types of Migration
  • 8. Save lives

    Save lives and establish coordinated international efforts on missing migrants
    Commitment
    “We commit to cooperate internationally to save lives and prevent migrant deaths and injuries through individual or joint search and rescue operations, standardized collection and exchange of relevant information, assuming collective responsibility to preserve the lives of all migrants, in accordance with international law. We further commit to identify those who have died or gone missing, and to facilitate communication with affected families.”

    9. Counter smuggling

    Strengthen the transnational response to smuggling of migrants
    Commitment
    “We commit to intensify joint efforts to prevent and counter smuggling of migrants by strengthening capacities and international cooperation to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalize the smuggling of migrants in order to end the impunity.”

    10. Eradicate trafficking

    Prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration
    Commitment
    “We commit to take legislative or other measures to prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration by strengthening capacities and international cooperation to investigate, prosecute and penalize trafficking in persons, discouraging demand that fosters exploitation leading to trafficking, and ending impunity of trafficking networks. We further commit to enhance the identification and protection of, and assistance to migrants who have become victims of trafficking, paying particular attention to women and children.”

    11. Manage borders

    Manage borders in an integrated, secure and coordinated manner
    Commitment
    “We commit to manage our national borders in a coordinated manner, promoting bilateral and regional cooperation, ensuring security for States, communities and migrants, and facilitating safe and regular cross-border movements of people while preventing irregular migration. We further commit to implement border management policies that respect national sovereignty, the rule of law, obligations under international law, human rights of all migrants, regardless of their migration status, and are non-discriminatory, gender responsive and child-sensitive.”

    Related Data Sources

  • SDG Indicator 10.7.2 on migration policies (DESA & IOM) Migration and Policy
  • 12. Screening and referral

    Strengthen certainty and predictability in migration procedures for appropriate screening, assessment and referral
    Commitment
    “We commit to increase legal certainty and predictability of migration procedures by developing and strengthening effective and human rights-based mechanisms for the adequate and timely screening and individual assessment of all migrants for the purpose of identifying and facilitating access to the appropriate referral procedures, in accordance with international law.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Refugee and asylum seeker statistics (UNHCR) Types of Migration
  • 13. Alternatives to detention

    Use migration detention only as a measure of last resort and work towards alternatives
    Commitment
    “We commit to ensure that any detention in the context of international migration follows due process, is non-arbitrary, based on law, necessity, proportionality and individual assessments, is carried out by authorized officials, and for the shortest possible period of time, irrespective of whether detention occurs at the moment of entry, in transit, or proceedings of return, and regardless of the type of place where the detention occurs. We further commit to prioritize non-custodian alternatives to detention that are in line with international law, and to take a human rights-based approach to any detention of migrants, using detention as a measure of last resort only.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Refugee and asylum seeker statistics (UNHCR) Types of Migration
  • 14. Consular protection

    Enhance consular protection, assistance and cooperation throughout the migration cycle
    Commitment
    “We commit to strengthen consular protection of an assistance to our nationals abroad, as well as consular cooperation between States in order to better safeguard the rights and interests of all migrants at all times, and to build upon the functions of consular missions to enhance interactions between migrants and State authorities of countries of origin, transit and destination, in accordance with international law.”

    15. Access to basic services

    Provide access to basic services for migrants
    Commitment
    “We commit to ensure that all migrants, regardless of their migration status, can exercise their human rights through safe access to basic services. We further commit to strengthen migrant-inclusive service delivery systems, notwithstanding that nationals and regular migrants may be entitled to more comprehensive service provision, while ensuring that any differential treatment must be based on law, proportionate, pursue a legitimate aim, in accordance with international human rights law.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Refugee and asylum seeker statistics (UNHCR) Types of Migration
  • 16. Inclusion and social cohesion

    Empower migrants and societies to realize full inclusion and social cohesion
    Commitment
    “We commit to foster inclusive and cohesive societies by empowering migrants to become active members of society and promoting the reciprocal engagement of receiving communities and migrants in the exercise of their rights and obligations towards each other, including observance of national laws and respect for customs of the country of destination. We further commit to strengthen the welfare of all members of societies by minimizing disparities, avoiding polarization and increasing public confidence in policies and institutions related to migration, in line with the acknowledgement that fully integrated migrants are better positioned to contribute to prosperity.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Refugee and asylum seeker statistics (UNHCR) Types of Migration
  • SDG Indicator 10.7.2 on migration policies (DESA & IOM) Migration and Policy
  • Number of internationally mobile students (inbound and outbound) (UNESCO) Types of Migration
  • Ratification of 18 International Human Rights Treaties (OHCHR) Migration and Policy
  • 17. Eleminate discrimination

    Eliminate all forms of discrimination and promote evidence-based public discourse to shape perceptions of migration
    Commitment
    “We commit to eliminate all forms of discrimination, condemn and counter expressions, acts and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, violence, xenophobia and related intolerance against all migrants in conformity with international human rights law. We further commit to promote an open and evidence-based public discourse on migration and migrants in partnership with all parts of society, that generates a more realistic, humane and constructive perception in this regard. We also commit to protect freedom of expression in accordance with international law, recognizing that an open and free debate contributes to a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of migration.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Ratification of 18 International Human Rights Treaties (OHCHR) Migration and Policy
  • 18. Skills development and recognition

    Invest in skills development and facilitate mutual recognition of skills, qualifications and competences
    Commitment
    “We commit to invest in innovative solutions that facilitate mutual recognition of skills, qualifications and competences of migrant workers at all skills levels, and promote demand-driven skills development to optimize the employability of migrants in formal labour markets in countries of destination and in countries of origin upon return, as well as to ensure decent work in labour migration.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Labour migration statistics (ILO) Types of Migration Vulnerabilities
  • Number of internationally mobile students (inbound and outbound) (UNESCO) Types of Migration
  • 19. Migrant and diaspora contribution

    Create conditions for migrants and diasporas to fully contribute to sustainable development in all countries
    Commitment
    “We commit to empower migrants and diasporas to catalyse their development contributions, and to harness the benefits of migration as a source of sustainable development, reaffirming that migration is a multidimensional reality of major relevance for the sustainable development of countries of origin, transit and destination.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Number of internationally mobile students (inbound and outbound) (UNESCO) Types of Migration
  • Annual remittance flows (inflow and outflow) (World Bank/KNOMAD) Types of Migration Migration and Development
  • 20. Remittances

    Promote faster, safer and cheaper transfer of remittances and foster financial inclusion of migrants
    Commitment
    “We commit to promote faster, safer and cheaper remittances by further developing existing conductive policy and regulatory environments that enable competition, regulation and innovation on the remittance market and by providing gender-responsive programmes and instruments that enhance the financial inclusion of migrants and their families. We further commit to optimize the transformative impact of remittances on the well-being of migrant workers and their families, as well as on sustainable development of countries, while respecting that remittances constitute an important source of private capital, and cannot be equated to other international financial flows, such as foreign direct investment, official development assistance, or other public sources of financing for development.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Annual remittance flows (inflow and outflow) (World Bank/KNOMAD) Types of Migration Migration and Development
  • 21. Dignified return and reintegration

    Cooperate in facilitating safe and dignified return and readmission, as well as sustainable reintegration
    Commitment
    “We commit to facilitate and cooperate for safe and dignified return and to guarantee due process, individual assessment and effective remedy, by upholding the prohibition of collective expulsion and of returning migrants when there is a real and foreseeable risk of death, torture, and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment, or other irreparable harm, in accordance with our obligations under international human rights law. We further commit to ensure that our nationals are duly received and readmitted, in full respect for the human right to return to one’s own country and the obligation of States to readmit their own nationals. We also commit to create conducive conditions for personal safety, economic empowerment, inclusion and social cohesion in communities, in order to ensure that reintegration of migrants upon return to their countries of origin is sustainable.”

    22. Social protection

    Establish mechanisms for the portability of social security entitlements and earned benefits
    Commitment
    “We commit to assist migrant workers at all skills levels to have access to social protection in countries of destination and profit from the portability of applicable social security entitlements and earned benefits in their countries of origin or when they decide to take up work in another country.”

    Related Data Sources

  • Refugee and asylum seeker statistics (UNHCR) Types of Migration
  • Labour migration statistics (ILO) Types of Migration Vulnerabilities
  • 23. International cooperation

    Strengthen international cooperation and global partnerships for safe, orderly and regular migration
    Commitment
    “We commit to support each other in the realization of the objectives and commitments laid out in this Global Compact through enhanced international cooperation, a revitalized global partnership, and in the spirit of solidarity, reaffirming the centrality of a comprehensive and integrated approach to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration, and recognizing that we are all countries of origin, transit and destination. We further commit to take joint action in addressing the challenges faced by each country to implement this Global Compact, underscoring the specific challenges faced in particular by African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States, and middle-income countries. We also commit to promote the mutually reinforcing nature between the Global Compact and existing international legal and policy frameworks, by aligning the implementation of this Global Compact with such frameworks, particularly the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and their recognition that migration and sustainable development are multidimensional and interdependent.”