Starting today, 17th till the 20th of May 2022, the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
It would be the first time that governments and other stakeholders gather to assess collective progress since the Global Migration Compact (GCM) was agreed upon in 2018.
IMRF, set to take place every four years will serve as the primary intergovernmental global platform to discuss and share progress on the implementation of all aspects of the GCM, including as it relates to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, leading to an adoption of a Progress Declaration.
Over the four-day period, IMRF’s agenda will include four interactive multi-stakeholder hearings, policy dialogue, statements from PGA, UNSG, and IOM DG, and a plenary.
Building up to the Forum, key stakeholders have already made pledges and stated their positions on migration review.
Labour migration is central to achieving the objectives of the GCM. For the International Labour Organisation (ILO): “Fair and effective labour migration frameworks are critical to achieving the objectives set out in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and to creating a more equal and just society. ILO will continue to bring together governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, UN agencies and other stakeholders to support the achievement of these objectives.”
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has network presence in countries of origin, transit and destination – with over 15 million volunteers embedded in communities who are in the frontline of providing humanitarian assistance to migrants. In 2021, the world’s largest humanitarian network, in partnership with SOS MEDITERRANEE established the first Humanitarian Service Point at Sea (HSP@Sea) to provide humanitarian services at sea; and has since been rescuing, protecting and assisting migrants on the Mediterranean.
Speaking at a Press Conference held by the United Nations, President of IFRC, Francesco Rocca reiterated his organisation’s commitment to work to save migrants on sea and land routes for free regardless of their migrant status, and commented on the importance of non-criminalization of humanitarian assistance.
Mr Rocca also added that: “if we are to make migration safer and dignified, we have to work together and harder. Many factors compel people to move across international borders, and so globally we have to make resolute efforts to make migration a choice, not a necessity.”
The quadrennial International Migration Review Forum will be hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly. It hopes to galvanize political will and momentum towards the implementation of the Compact and its objectives for the benefit of migrant workers, countries of origin, and countries of destination alike.
Sessions of the Forum will be broadcast online as well as being held in-person.
For more information on IMRF, kindly visit the website.
By: Theresa R. Fianko
Additional Information: United Nations / IOM / ILO
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