Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
Name	Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
Type	International agreement
Adopted	2018
Venue	United Nations Conference; United Nations General Assembly
Participants	United Nations Member States; International Organization for Migration; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Language	English language; French language; Spanish language; Arabic language; Chinese language; Russian language

Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is an intergovernmental agreement negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations that sets out cooperative principles on international migration. It was developed through multilateral consultations involving member states of the United Nations General Assembly, regional bodies such as the European Union, and international organizations including the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The Compact frames migration-related cooperation alongside instruments such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.

Background

The Compact emerged from policy processes linked to the 2016 New York Declaration, which followed high-profile events including the Syrian civil war, the European migrant crisis, and mass movements arising from the Iraqi conflict and the Libyan civil war. States and entities such as the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Organization of American States, and the Arab League engaged in consultations alongside specialist agencies like the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization. The initiative intersected with prior instruments including the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and regional frameworks such as the Schengen Area accords and the Dublin Regulation.

Objectives and Principles

The Compact articulates objectives consistent with international law instruments exemplified by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Its principles parallel commitments found in the Geneva Conventions and reflect norms promoted by actors such as the Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Core aims include enhancing border management cooperation among states like Germany, Mexico, Canada, and Australia; protecting the rights of migrants in transit and destination countries such as Italy and Greece; facilitating labour mobility referenced by Canada and Japan; and addressing drivers of displacement identified in analyses by World Bank and International Monetary Fund reports. The Compact references cooperation mechanisms used by networks such as the Global Forum on Migration and Development and the Regional Consultative Processes on Migration.

Negotiation and Adoption

Negotiations were conducted through sessions at United Nations Headquarters in New York City and involved diplomatic delegations from states including United States, United Kingdom, France, India, China, and Brazil. Civil society organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Rescue Committee participated in parallel consultations, while research institutions like Oxford University, Harvard University, and London School of Economics provided analyses. The drafting process engaged multilateral fora including the United Nations Economic and Social Council and expert groups convened by the International Organization for Migration. Adoption occurred following votes and statements at the United Nations General Assembly plenary in 2018, amid high-profile positions voiced by leaders of states such as Hungary and Poland and endorsements by heads of agencies including the United Nations Secretary-General and the Director General of the International Organization for Migration.

Implementation and Follow-up Mechanisms

Implementation arrangements build on coordination models used by organizations like the European Commission, African Union Commission, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The Compact established voluntary follow-up mechanisms, periodic reviews, and data-sharing approaches akin to those employed by the UN Statistics Division and the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix. Regional implementation often draws upon platforms such as the European Migration Network, the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Funding and technical assistance involve multilateral development banks such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and bilateral partnerships with states including Sweden, Norway, and Germany.

Criticisms and Controversies

The Compact generated controversy among political actors and advocacy groups across countries such as United States, Czech Republic, Austria, and Israel where some governments criticized perceived sovereignty implications and parliamentary processes. Right-leaning parties like Law and Justice (Poland), Fidesz (Hungary), and movements associated with figures such as Marine Le Pen and Nigel Farage campaigned against endorsement, while civil libertarian groups and academic critics debated legal and normative implications referencing jurisprudence from the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. Debates engaged media outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, and Le Monde and raised questions about the Compact’s voluntary nature, overlap with binding treaties like the 1951 Refugee Convention, and implementation capacity in states with limited resources such as Somalia and Haiti.

Impact and Reception by States and Organizations

Reception has varied: many countries including Spain, Portugal, Canada, and Mexico publicly endorsed the Compact, integrating its objectives into national migration strategies and bilateral initiatives with partners like Colombia and Peru. Regional organizations such as the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States referenced the Compact in policy dialogues. International organizations including the International Organization for Migration, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the World Health Organization have aligned programming and data efforts to Compact objectives, while think tanks like Migration Policy Institute and Brookings Institution produced evaluations. Implementation outcomes remain mixed and are monitored through reports submitted to the United Nations General Assembly and reviewed in multilateral conferences including the Global Forum on Migration and Development.

Category:International agreements