URU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 115: Rapport om FN's migrationserklæring (Global Compact for Migration)

Udenrigsudvalget 2021-22
URU Alm.del Bilag 115
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United Nations

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Distr.: General

27 December 2021

Original: English

General Assembly

Seventy-sixth session

Agenda item 15

Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up

to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and

summits in the economic, social and related fields

Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

Report of the Secretary-General

Summary

The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution

73/195

of 19 December 2018, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General,

drawing on the United Nations Network on Migration, to report to the Assembly on a

biennial basis on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and

Regular migration, the activities of the United Nations system in this regard, as well

as the functioning of the institutional arrangements. T he present report also responds

to the request made by the Assembly in its resolution

73/326

of 19 July 2019 for the

Secretary-General, as part of the biennial report preceding each forum, drawing on

the Network, to provide guidance for the deliberations during the forum, including

the envisaged round tables and policy debate, and to make the report available at least

12 weeks ahead of each forum. The report builds on the inputs and outcomes from the

Global Compact regional reviews, as well as dedicated Member State and stakeholder

consultations and discussions with United Nations system entities.

The drafting of

the report was overseen by the Network’s Executive Committee, comprising the

International Labour Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United

Nations Children’s Fund, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United

Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Programme and the

World Health Organization.

All practices referenced in the present report are accessible from the United Nations Network Hub:

https://migrationnetwork.un.org/hub.

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I. Introduction

The need for a cooperative framework on migration has never been more

apparent, and the foresight of Member States and stakeholders in developing the

Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration has never been more

evident. The first International Migration Review Forum, to be held in May 2022,

presents the international community with a vital opportunity to reinforce the

relevance and timeliness of the Compact, assess its impact to date and ensure that it

is brought to bear in equipping societies for future challenges.

Since the adoption of the Compact, on 10 December 2018, international

migration has remained ubiquitous and an issue of critical importance. This has been

particularly apparent in the response to the coronavirus disease (COVID -19)

pandemic, for both good and ill. Migrants were among those groups most impacted,

whether through increased risk of COVID-19 infection, restricted or non-existent

access to health services and social protection, job losses, discrimination, protracted

family separation, inability to access online learning and child services or unsafe and

undignified returns.

The essential roles that so many migrants play as front-line service providers,

pivotal actors in our supply chains and crucial sources of support for their families

and communities have been rightly recognized and celebrated in many countries. As

States responded to the pandemic and its impacts, many showed foresight in breaking

down barriers, through policy or practice, to ensure non -discriminatory health-care

and vaccine access and to ensure that migrant workers remained employed, for

example, by adapting regular pathways. Others halted deportations and accelerated

the use of alternatives to immigration detention. In addition, remittance flows hav e

remained resilient as critical sources of support for families and communities.

Building on those examples will be an important component of the International

Migration Review Forum and its outcome. Also important will be acknowledging and

addressing the many deficits that remain, including the manner in which migration

governance, whether as a response to COVID-19 or not, leaves too many migrants in

desperate situations of vulnerability or denies them agency. Any failure to explicitly

include migrants in vaccination plans undermines our commitment to broader public

health goals and to combating inequality devalues the solemn commitment to leaving

no one behind that Member States made in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development.

It is also important to recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has, in many

ways, reshaped international migration. Evolving mobility restrictions and entry

requirements have profoundly altered the mechanics and opportunities for admission,

stay, work and return. It is clear, however, that many challenges predate the pandemic.

Discrimination, xenophobia, misinformation and the stigmatization of migrants or

minorities associated with migration remain virulent. In this environment, migrants

are vilified and even considered as threats. It is unacceptable that, in today’s world,

thousands of migrants are subject to great suffering and disappear or die during their

migration journeys.

The guiding principles, objectives and proposed actions of the Compact provide

the road map for addressing those challenges. Indeed, as shown in the present report,

the Compact’s value as a touchstone and guide for States has been demonstrated

throughout the pandemic, as they work to make migration work for all.

Amid emerging transitions, the vision of the Compact must be promoted in order

to facilitate and recognize the benefits of safe, orderly and regular migration for

everyone and to enhance the Compact’s potential to promote the achievement of the

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Sustainable Development Goals. Dedicated efforts, including through concrete

commitments towards the implementation of the Compact, will be integral to the next

phase of realizing the Compact’s vision. In particular, the forthcoming International

Migration Review Forum provides an opportunity to harness the power of

multilateralism to provide concrete guidance in three areas of overarching and

common importance.

The first area relates to how inclusive societies can be further promoted and how

to ensure that migrants are more effectively integrated into communities and

economies, whether of destination, transit or origin, and not defined simply by their

migration status.

The second area relates to how regular migration can be further fostered through

diversified pathways, opportunities for regularization and sustainable reintegration,

while addressing the reverberations of the pandemic and preparing for the

intensifying impacts of climate change and for the evolution of our societies and

economies.

10. The third area relates to how to reduce the vulnerabilities that undermine the

rights or well-being of migrants, their families and societies, including the tragedies

that stem from irregular and precarious migration and the responses to them.

11. The lessons of the pandemic provide a timely opportunity to recalibrate gender-

responsive and child-sensitive migration governance at the local, national, regional

and global levels so that the commitments of the Compact, the 2030 Agenda and the

declaration on the commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United

Nations are fulfilled for all migrants, and indeed for everyone. As the first

International Migration Review Forum approaches, the present report contains a call

upon States to take concerted action to advance a world that truly foster s the rights,

dignity and well-being of migrants and that is grounded in cooperation and

international law.

Snapshot of migration and migrants: global data and trends

• The number of persons living outside their country of birth or

citizenship has witnessed robust growth in recent decades, reaching

281 million in 2020.

• As a result, international migrants as a share of the global population

increased from 2.8 per cent in 2000 to 3.6 per cent in 2020.

• At the end of 2020, 35.5 million children, or 1 in 66 children

globally, under 18 years of age were living outside their country of

birth.

• In 2019, there were more than 169 million migrant workers in the

world.

• During the 2015–2020 period, the net flow of migrants moving from

less developed to more developed regions was estimated at

2.8 million annually.

• The pandemic may have reduced the global number of international

migrants by around 2 million by mid-2020.

• Between 1 January 2019 and 24 November 2021, more than 8,436

migrant deaths were recorded globally; a further 5,534 migrants went

missing and are presumed dead.

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• In 2020, officially recorded remittances to low- and middle-income

countries were $549 billion, only 1.7 per cent below the total for 2019.

• At their peak, in mid-December 2020, travel measures, mobility

restrictions and border closures implemented by Governments in the

context of the COVID-19 pandemic exceeded 111,000 and, as of

November 2021, more than 25,000 entry restrictions related to the

pandemic remained in place.

International Migration 2020: Highlights

(United Nations publication, 2020).

International Data Alliance for Children on the Move, “Missing from the Story:

The Urgent Need for Better Data to Protect Children on the Move” ( 2021).

International Labour Organization,

ILO Global Estimates on International

Migrant Workers

(Geneva, 2021).

International Organization for Migration, Migration Policy Institute,

COVID-19

and the State of Global Mobility in 2020

(Geneva, 2021).

Ibid., “Human mobility impacts due to COVID-19”. Available at

https://migration.iom.int/

(accessed in November 2021).

II. Progress on implementation

State and stakeholder engagement on the Compact

12. While hurdles stemming from the pandemic affected progress on the

implementation of the Compact, States endeavoured to implement its commitments.

In their voluntary reports submitted in response to the regional reviews on the

Compact, more than 90 States discussed progress and challenges.

Approaches to

implementation differ. Kenya and Portugal adopted Compact-specific national

implementation plans. Some States incorporated the Compact into existing

frameworks. Others observed that their existing framework s sufficiently reflected the

Compact. States also reported on national efforts that were already under way when

the Compact was adopted and that aligned with the commitments and recommended

actions of the Compact.

13. States identified other challenges to implementation aside from the pandemic.

Those included limited resource, technical and technological capacity; inadequate

coordination within Governments and with stakeholders; the complexity of irregular

migration; and the need to simplify procedures and generate greater awareness of

regular pathways.

14. With support from the United Nations Network on Migration, 27 “champion

countries” have come together to share experiences and foster State engagement with

the Compact, through, for example, their joint statement at the 2021 high-level

political forum on sustainable development. Cultivating the engagement of countries

with different migration policies and experiences has proved beneficial for promoting

exchange, cooperation and partnerships.

15. Recommendations stemming from multi-stakeholder regional, subregional or

thematic consultations were presented during the intergovernmental regional review

conferences that were held over the past two years. Stakeholder consultations,

interventions and written inputs suggested that engagement with stakeholders be

strengthened prior to the conduct of regional reviews and in the preparation of

voluntary reports. Stakeholders also called for more perspectives from migrants in

__________________

State reports are available at

https://migrationnetwork.un.org/regional-reviews.

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the analysis of implementation needs, the development of national plans and the

Compact review and follow-up.

16. The instrumental role of local actors in implementing the Compact, as first

responders during crises and more generally, has become increasingly apparent.

Often, only local action can fulfil policies and programmes that are developed at the

national, regional and international levels In addition , policies adopted at the local

level have a direct impact on the well-being of migrants. Local governments and

stakeholders must be seen as allies in efforts to promote and implement the Compact

and enhance coherence across commitments. A call to local action launched by the

Mayors Mechanism of the Global Forum on Migration and Development aims to

showcase and support city-led approaches to migration governance and to illustrate

actions that contribute to the implementation of the Compact. Recognizing the legal

and political mandates of local governments is critical.

17. As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic and a damaging two -speed

recovery, some States have taken actions that honour the interconnectedness between

the well-being of migrants and the prosperity of societies. Equally, regressions and

worrying trends exist and coincide with unanticipated challenges. Therefore,

reinvigorating international migration and optimizing its benefits for migrants, their

families and societies require steadfast commitment to the Compact’s 360-degree

approach, its guiding principles and the achievement of all 23 objectives. The sections

below provide an overview of the progress, practices and challenges noted by

Governments and stakeholders, including during the regional reviews, across 10

themes.

Recharging the decade of action and delivery for sustainable

development in order to address adverse drivers

18. The pandemic reversed the progress that had been made towards the realization

of the 2030 Agenda.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of poor

people has increased by up to 124 million.

Between 83 and 132 million people may

have been pushed into chronic hunger in 2020,

while an additional 101 million

children and young people fell below the minimum reading proficiency level.

During

2020, the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs were lost.

E/2021/58.

Global

working hours in 2021 are estimated to have remained significantly below 2019

levels, with the burden falling principally on middle- and low-income countries.

Women and girls faced a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work and a range of

other pandemic-associated challenges. These repercussions and their overlap with

disasters, climate change, conflict and violence imperil the achievement of the

Sustainable Development Goals. The pandemic has also emphasized the vital role that

migration plays in our economies and societies and the need to better protect,

empower and promote the agency of migrants. To get the Goals back on track through

the recovery and beyond, attention must be paid to tacklin g the adverse drivers of

migration, reducing risks during migration and leveraging the contributions of

migrants and migration to implement the 2030 Agenda during the current decade of

action and delivery for sustainable development.

__________________

See, for example,

E/2021/58.

E/HLS/2021/1.

Ibid.

E/2021/58.

Ibid.

See, for example, International Labour Organization, “ILO monitor: COVID-19 and the world of

work – updated estimates and analysis”, 8th ed., 27 October 2021.

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19. It is noteworthy in this regard that 20 of the 42 voluntary national review reports

submitted by States at the high-level political forum held in 2021 referred to the

Compact, migrants or migration-related themes. Building on linkages between the

Global Compact, the Sustainable Development Goals and their review forums,

including as reflected in the ministerial declaration adopted at the 2021 high-level

political forum on sustainable development,

will be important for progressing the

implementation of the Compact, alongside efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

Strengthening linkages between the Compact, other fundamental instruments and

agendas applicable to migration and their review forums is also essential.

Mitigating, adapting and building resilience to environmental drivers

20. States have underscored disasters, climate change and environmental

degradation as pervasive adverse drivers of migration. Catastrophic storms, flooding,

wildfires and droughts have devastated lives, livelihoods and human security. The

amplifying effects of rising sea levels, glacial retreat, desertification and biodiversity

decline augur an unsettling future. States have the power to reduce adversity and build

resilience through inclusive, rights-based mitigation, risk reduction and adaptation,

and multi-hazard, evidence-based approaches that recognize that crises, such as

pandemics and storms, may overlap and have compounding effects.

21. States are actively addressing those challenges. In 2019, Fiji established a trust

fund to support the planned relocation of communities affected by climate change.

The 2019–2024 strategy on drought-related disasters of the Intergovernmental

Authority on Development (IGAD) includes efforts to build resilience and promote

migration as an adaptation mechanism. Governments in the IGAD region, United

Nations agencies and other entities are also engaged in a project funded by the

migration multi-partner trust fund that seeks to address data and knowledge gaps,

build capacity and ensure that human mobility associated with disasters and climate

change is addressed through national and regional instruments on disaster risk

reduction, climate action and mobility. The multi-stakeholder Capacity for Disaster

Reduction Initiative integrates mobility considerations in the delivery of multisectoral

capacity development services for States. The Coordination Centre for the Prevention

of Natural Disasters in Central America used guidelines on disaster displacement as

a training tool to support their member countries. Some countries also incorporate

migrants and human mobility into their disaster risk reduction or preparedness

frameworks. In June 2021, the mayor-led Global Mayors Task Force on Climate and

Migration was launched to address the impacts of the climate crisis on migration in

cities and to accelerate global responses.

22. Climate change is a defining challenge of our times. It demands policy

coherence between the Compact and other applicable frameworks, including

implementation of the Warsaw International Mechanism recommendations on human

mobility. At the twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and as part of the Glasgow

Climate Pact, State parties urged greater efforts on mitigation and adaptation and

action and support to avert, minimize and address loss and damage, including

displacement.

Building on lessons, guidance and commitments, efforts must be

strengthened to address the implications of climate change for migration and to foster

people’s resilience to remain in place with dignity or move as a form of adaptation.

This is integral to the protection of the rights of children and futur e generations.

__________________

E/HLS/2021/1.

World Bank Group,

Recovery: COVID-19 Crisis Through a Migration Lens

(2021).

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Ensuring fair and ethical recruitment and decent work for

migrant workers

23. The pandemic underscored the crucial contributions of migrant workers, who

account for most international migrants, and exploitative practices against th em,

highlighting the importance of protecting migrant workers and recognizing their skills.

As migrant essential workers in health care and food production and distribution

systems toiled to keep people safe and fed, often in unsafe and indecent conditions

with insufficient protections, others lost jobs, livelihoods or regular status. Migrant

workers faced wage theft, reduced salaries, discriminatory dismissals, withholding of

benefits, forced unpaid leave and protracted separation from their families.

24. As efforts are made to end the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate a truly global

and equitable recovery that guarantees fair and ethical recruitment and decent work

and invests in solutions that facilitate the mutual recognition and development of

skills, qualifications and competencies will be crucial. Several examples demonstrate

that it is possible. Bhutan, for instance, took action to enable migrant workers to

extend their stays or change employers. Azerbaijan automatically extended the

temporary residence permits of migrant workers during the pandemic. Viet Nam

prohibited the charging of recruitment fees to migrant workers. Tunisia enhanced

monitoring and enforcement capacity related to recruitment agencies. A coalition of

stakeholders launched the “Justice for Wage Theft” campaign to address unjust

withholding of migrant wages by their employers. Research and other collective

efforts have contributed to enhancing the evidence base for the assessment of

Sustainable Development Goal indicator 10.7.1. In 2020, Germany established a

central advisory service to promote the recognition of foreign qualifications. In Sri

Lanka, the Government and employers created a skills passport, which allowed

returning nationals to demonstrate formally and informally acquired skills. States also

continued to ratify fundamental labour instruments.

Addressing smuggling and human trafficking and promoting

access to justice

25. There are indications that migrant smugglers can rapidly adapt to curtailed and

altered opportunities for regular migration by evading restrictions, identifying

remote, riskier routes and increasing smuggling fees. Emerging research on specific

migratory routes suggests that COVID-19 related interventions may have increased

demand for smuggling services over the medium to long term. Smuggling, especially

in its aggravated forms, can pose significant threats to the lives and welfare of

migrants. It may involve gendered human rights violations and abuses, such as higher

instances of forced labour reported for men and higher exposure to sexual violence

and abuse reported for women. Altered dynamics stemming from the pandemic may

pose new dangers and risks of aggravated smuggling.

Meanwhile, humanitarian

assistance to migrants in distress is too often criminalized as smuggling. Migrants

also represent a significant share of detected victims of trafficking in most regions.

Poverty and economic marginalization, heightened since the pandemic, are among the

key risk factors of trafficking in persons, including for children and young people.

__________________

See, for example, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “COVID-19 and the Smuggling of

Migrants: A Call for Safeguarding the Rights of Smuggled Migrants Facing Increased Risks and

Vulnerabilities” (Vienna, 2021) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,

Abused and

Neglected: A Gender Perspective on Aggravated Migrant Smuggling Offences and Response

(2021).

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The COVID-19 context has complicated access and the provision of support to

victims of trafficking.

26. In 2020, States launched the Mechanism for the Review of the Implementation

of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the

Protocols thereto, two of which concern trafficking in persons and the smuggling of

migrants. In the 2020–2021 period, the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against

Trafficking in Persons developed policy guidance on trafficking for the purposes of

forced labour, the non-punishment of victims of trafficking, preventing trafficking

through sustainable procurement and trafficking for the purpose of organ removal.

Armenia established programmes and Argentina establishe d specialized agencies to

assist and support victims of trafficking. Panama created a temporary humanitarian

protection permit for victims of trafficking.

27. Strengthening evidence on the evolving demand for and the characteristics of

smuggling and the incidence of trafficking is necessary for targeted policies and

protection interventions, including the bolstering of criminal justice responses.

Domestic legislation must recognize circumstances that endanger the lives or safety

of smuggled migrants, or that amount to inhuman and degrading treatment, as

aggravations. Despite the severity of abuses, few cases take aggravations into account

when prosecuting alleged smugglers and other criminals. States must eradicate

impunity and ensure that all responses and referrals are child- and gender-sensitive in

order to promote victim-centred protection and assistance.

Advancing non-custodial alternatives to immigration detention

and steps towards ending child immigration detention

28. Policies, practices and conditions associated with immigration detention,

including arbitrary deprivation of liberty, overcrowding an d poor access to services,

profoundly affect physical and mental health, well-being and child development.

They undermine access to fair immigration processes and violate human rights. The

pandemic exposed and amplified the risks inherent in immigration de tention, where

physical distancing is nearly impossible, hygiene and protective equipment are

inadequate, human resources are stretched and misinformation is common.

29. The pandemic prompted States to adopt non-custodial alternatives. Some States

closed immigration detention facilities, suspended detention practices and released

migrants into non-custodial alternatives with access to health-care and other services;

some also enabled migrants to remain in regular status by extending visas. Others took

steps to improve conditions by implementing COVID-19 risk mitigation measures.

Some States implemented policy changes to phase out immigration detention and scale

up non-custodial alternatives. In June 2021, Belgium created a government department

to implement and promote alternatives to detention. In 2020, Mexico harmonized

legislation to prohibit child immigration detention. Thailand adopted a monitoring and

evaluation framework as part of its efforts to end child immigration detention.

30. Alongside encouraging steps, worrying trends have been observed. Some States

responded to the pandemic by detaining more migrants for longer periods, using

public health concerns to justify detention or unlawful deportation. Many States faced

practical challenges in ensuring rights-based alternatives to detention, particularly in

guaranteeing adequate living conditions and access to services for released migrants.

__________________

See, for example, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,

Global Report on Trafficking in

Persons 2020

(United Nations publication, 2020) and United Nations Office on Drugs and

Crime,

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trafficking in Persons and Responses to the

Challenges

(2021).

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31. A strong evidence base on the effectiveness of alternatives exists as a result of

the dedicated efforts of government officials spearheading changes, health experts

researching impacts, case managers assisting migrants and migrants in non -custodial

alternatives. The pandemic allowed some countries to demonstrate how to govern

migration humanely and effectively without resorting to detention. States can learn

from those lessons and make liberty the norm by ending child immigration detention

and investing in non-custodial alternatives to ensure that detention is a measure of

last resort only.

Improving consular assistance and protection capacity to support

all migrants

32. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the centrality of timely consular services

for safeguarding migrants’ rights throughout the migration cycle. The pandemic

exacerbated demands for consular services, putting capacities to the test as migrants

were deported, found themselves stranded, lost jobs and regular status, struggled to

recoup entitlements or contracted COVID-19. Regional reviews highlighted challenges

for delivering support to migrants, including in terms of coordination between consular

and diplomatic networks and limited resources and presence.

33. During the pandemic, several States made use of remote systems and digital

solutions and collaborated with stakeholders to accommodate demand for consular

assistance. Argentina strengthened consular support through its one -stop virtual

mechanism and collaborated with diaspora communities to provide food and housing.

In the Declaration on the Rights of Children in the Context of Migration of the

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of 2019, States agreed to

coordinate consular services.

34. Experience demonstrates the importance of strengthening consular protection,

assistance and cooperation to safeguard the rights and interests of migrants at all

times. Effective consular services for migrants, including those in irregular status, can

be extended by establishing new consulates, increasing trained staff, using digital

solutions, enhancing bilateral and multilateral agreements or involving stakeholders.

As countries revamp their consular systems, safeguarding privacy and protecting

personal data remain vital.

Harnessing migrant contributions

35. Knowledge is extensive on how migrants and diasporas enrich societies through

human, socioeconomic and cultural capacities and contribute in their countries of

origin and destination to sustainable development outcomes for their families and

communities. The pandemic reinforced this understanding as migrants and diaspora

communities used their competencies to address challenges. The Pakistani diaspora

health initiative developed a digital platform for diaspora health professionals to

provide online consultations and training. Diaspora organizations also translated

guidance materials and supported outreach and information campaigns.

36. The pandemic offers lessons on how to improve conditions fo r migrants and the

diaspora to contribute to societies. In creating enabling environments, many States

have established diaspora engagement policies to facilitate the contributions of the

diaspora in countries of origin or destination, while some States re ference migration,

migrants or diaspora communities in their development plans. In 2020, following

extensive consultation with migrants and diaspora communities, the Republic of

Moldova rolled out the “Diaspora Succeeds at Home” programme, which offers gra nts

to local governments and aims to make emigration work for local development. A

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number of European States support the MEETAfrica initiative, which encourages

members of the African diaspora in France and Germany to create businesses in their

countries of origin. Other States, however, have acknowledged the lack of supportive

policies for the diaspora.

Promoting faster, cheaper remittances and fostering financial inclusion

37. Despite the pandemic, remittances remained resilient, defying predictions and

confirming that migrants endeavour to send money to their families even when in

severe hardship. More than 800 million people living in over 125 countries are reliant

on migrants sending money home.

In 2020, officially recorded remittances to low-

and middle-income countries amounted to $549 billion, which is only 1.7 per cent

below the total for 2019, while remittance flows to such countries are projected to

reach $589 billion in 2021.

38. Initiatives were launched to support the continued flow of remittances in the

light of the pandemic. The multi-stakeholder Remittance Community Task Force

advised Governments and the remittance industry, including through its “Blueprint

for Action” report on how to spur the recovery and resilience of remittance transfers

in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and a policy brief on the impact of

COVID-19 on family remittances that was published by the Network. Thirty -three

countries joined a call to action initiated by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland and Switzerland on remittances in crisis. Many countries declared

remittances to be essential services and eased regulations. To facilitate greater

digitalization, remittance senders were offered incentives and remittance transaction

fees were abolished or waived. The Group of 20 Global Partnership for Financial

Inclusion improved reporting and monitoring on remittance transfer costs, the

digitalization of remittance services and the impact of crises on remittances within

the context of their national remittance plans. In several African countries, national

networks were established to enable relevant public, private and development

partners to address challenges in national remittance markets in the context of the

pandemic and develop joint road maps. Kenya launched its first online survey on

Kenyan diaspora remittances in order to advance the role of remittances in supporting

livelihoods and economic development.

39. Preliminary information shows that migrants increased their use of regulated

and digital channels, reducing transfer costs in several remittance corridors.

Digital

channels depend on sound infrastructure and on digital and financial inclusion, which

are unevenly developed across countries and in urban and rural settings. Women

struggle disproportionately to gain access to finances and mobile -enabled data, even

though they rely more on remittances than men do.

40. The pandemic has offered lessons on how to improve the remittance market,

including by expanding the use of digital channels, promoting innovation,

competition and transparency, reducing transaction costs and increasing digital and

financial inclusion. Measures to reduce remittance transfer fees and i ncrease the

productive use of remittances should be informed by sound data collection on the

transfer and use of remittances and by diaspora engagement. While digitalization can

__________________

United Nations Network on Migration, “International Day of Family Remittances: the global

pandemic highlights the crucial role of remittances for migrant families”, 16 June 2020.

Available at

https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/international-day-family-remittances-

global-pandemic-highlights-crucial-role-remittances.

World Bank Group,

Recovery: COVID-19 Crisis Through a Migration Lens

(2021).

International Fund for Agricultural Development and Wo rld Bank, “Resilience in the market for

international remittances during the COVID-19 crisis” (2021).

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support the continuity of remittance flows in crisis situations, regulated cas h-based

remittance services must be maintained to address challenges in the provision of

digital remittance-related services. When supported by coherent policies and

priorities and complemented by private sector and civil society initiatives, such shifts

can help to achieve relevant Sustainable Development Goal targets, in particular

target 10.c, including for women and rural dwellers.

Promoting social protection and the portability of entitlements

41. When the pandemic triggered job losses, forced people into unpaid leave,

decreased savings and prompted returns, the importance of ensuring the right to

inclusive, accessible social protection and the effective portability of benefits and

entitlements became even more apparent.

42. States adopted agreements to address those issues. Belarus and the Republic of

Moldova signed a social security agreement in 2019 to facilitate the portability of

pension entitlements for returning nationals. The same year, the Lao People’s

Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam endorsed a road map for

implementing a ministerial declaration on the portability of social security for migrant

workers. In 2020, Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers and

social partners adopted a set of guidelines on the portability of social security

benefits. The resolution concerning the second recurrent discussion on social

protection adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 109th session

included recommendations on the portability of social protection for migrant workers.

43. Despite notable practices, exclusion, barriers to eligibility, unimplemented

frameworks and limited cross-border cooperation continue to affect the coverage and

portability of social security benefits and other entitlements. Concerted efforts to

promote bilateral or multilateral partnerships, implement existing frameworks and

develop new agreements are needed to enable migrant workers of all skill levels an d

their families to enjoy their right to social protection and other entitlements and benefits.

Collecting and utilizing accurate and disaggregated data as a basis

for evidence-based policies

44. During the regional reviews, many States raised the salience of reliable and

disaggregated data for implementing the commitments of the Compact through

evidence-based policies and actions. The pandemic complicated efforts to collect

migration data, including from the round of censuses carried out in 2020. For instance,

many census operations were postponed as person-to-person contact was not possible

during enumeration. Still, some initiatives to improve migration statistics, including

their timeliness, coverage, disaggregation and comparability, continued .

45. In 2021, the Statistical Commission endorsed a conceptual framework and

definitions for the revision of its recommendations on statistics on international

migration. The framework emphasizes data needs for national policymaking, captures

new migration patterns and data sources and will underpin statistical capacity -

building. In 2020 and 2021, the United Nations launched various projects in Africa,

Asia and the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean aimed at strengthening

national capacity to collect and compile migration data and enhance understanding of

their use and limitations for policy formulation, implementation and monitoring of

applicable Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda.

46. Efforts were made to strengthen the capacity of regional cooperation

mechanisms, such as ASEAN and SADC, to collect labour migration data. In 2020, a

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cross-sectoral global coalition launched the International Data Alliance for Children

on the Move to mitigate data gaps and use statistics to protect the rights of migrant

children. Two data centres were established in Africa: the African Centre for the Study

and Research on Migration in Mali and the African Migration Observatory in

Morocco. In 2021, the African Union and partners launched the African Migration

Data Network to promote continental exchange and initiatives on migration data.

47. Data gaps persist. A recent global survey suggests that, in general, statistical

capacity is relatively stronger in areas such as labour and long-term migration,

followed by return migration, whereas gaps exist in the areas of irregular migration

and citizens living abroad.

Data collection and analysis gaps also exist in thematic

areas such as migration and health, and age and gender. Other challenges highlighted

during the regional reviews and the International Forum on Migration Statistics held

in 2020 concerned outdated, incompatible or inadequate sources and systems for data

collection, disaggregation and centralization, as well as limited digital capacity. In

order to overcome existing gaps and to address COVID -19-related challenges, work

towards the establishment of a global programme on migration data must continue,

as called for in the Compact. All efforts related to data collection and sharing must

uphold the right to privacy.

III. Looking ahead to the International Migration Review Forum

48. As approaches to international migration are recalibrated, drawing insights from

the pandemic, actions must be accelerated where systemic gaps persist, inequities

have widened and cooperation and partnerships are essential for tackling existing and

emerging challenges. The present section elaborates on the progress, practices and

recommendations discussed above and highlights further policy priorities for

consideration by the Forum.

Promoting inclusive societies and including migrants in COVID-19

response and recovery

49. The pandemic underscored systemic challenges to the safety, dignity, human

rights and well-being of migrants stemming from the failure to fully include them in

society and eliminate discrimination. By contrast, there have been hopeful signs, with

States revising policies and practices to better protect migrants, both in the context of

the COVID-19 pandemic and more generally.

50. Migrants struggled to gain access to basic services, such as health care, despite

being disproportionately exposed to COVID-19 as a result of their living conditions and

employment in essential jobs or other sectors where opportunities for teleworking or

social distancing are limited or non-existent. Barriers to access to basic services included

discriminatory laws and policies, inconsistent practice, inaccessible information,

exclusion based on legal status, lack of documentation, fears of health repercussions,

fears of immigration enforcement when gaining access to services, and digital divides.

Such barriers often operated in concert or were amplified by greater demands on the

limited capacity of institutions and actors to provide those basic services,

misinformation and stigma, and lockdowns and other pandemic-related interventions.

51. COVID-19 vaccination policies and programmes also reflected varying degrees of

inclusivity. In a review conducted between February and March 2021 of 104 national

__________________

See

E/CN.3/2021/11.

See, for example, World Health Organization,

Refugees and Migrants in Times of COVID-19:

Mapping Trends of Public Health and Migration Policies and Practices

(Geneva, 2021).

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deployment vaccination plans submitted to the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access

(COVAX) Facility, it was found that only 28 per cent of those plans included migrants

and that even fewer (17 per cent) explicitly included migrants in irregular situations.

52. Even when inclusive frameworks exist at the national or subnational levels, they

do not always lead to migrants having access to them in practice. In the urban and

rural localities in which migrants reside, sometimes on their margins, local

implementation efforts remain essential.

53. In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many States strengthened access to

health-care services for migrants. Some States adopted or revised frameworks and

provided access to COVID-19 testing, vaccination or treatment, sometimes free of

charge. Some adopted flexible policies to enable migrants to remain in a regular status

and have access to health-care and other services. Many States and local authorities

launched awareness-raising initiatives and translated COVID-19-related information

into multiple languages to mitigate health risks and improve health -care accessibility.

As of September 2021, preliminary data indicated that, in practice, 132 of 177

countries were providing access to vaccinations for migrants in regular status.

54. States also facilitated access to other basic services. In the context of the

COVID-19 pandemic, Egypt exempted migrant children from the prerequisite of a

valid residency permit for enrolling in the 2020/21 academic year. The city of Milan,

Italy, adopted a 2020–2022 strategic plan to improve access to good-quality

education, other services and social inclusion for all Milanese children, including

migrants, and established a multifaceted service centre for unaccom panied migrant

children in 2019.

55. In addition, migrants were inconsistently covered by pandemic -related

socioeconomic support and recovery measures, despite losing jobs and income and

struggling to meet basic needs. In 2019, Uzbekistan established a social support

system for Uzbek migrant workers residing abroad. Ecuador adopted a comprehensive

plan for the care and protection of Venezuelan nationals during 2020–2021 to enhance

their access to services and socioeconomic inclusion. Ireland provided access to

social welfare services for workers from outside the European Union or the European

Economic Area who had lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. Saint Kitts and

Nevis included migrants in socioeconomic support and recovery measures. In

La Unión, El Salvador, local authorities and migrants developed a socioeconomic

response plan to address the effects of the pandemic on households with migrant

family members. Tajikistan broadened its humanitarian cash transfer programme

vulnerability list to include the children and families of migran t workers.

56. Policies or programmes on basic services, social protection or recovery are far

too often limited to migrants with a regular status. Even when migrants in irregular

situations are included, they continue to face practical hurdles, owing to f ears of arrest,

detention and deportation, inaccessible information, lack of requisite documents or the

inconsistent implementation of those policies or programmes. Some States and

stakeholders sought to mitigate such barriers. In 2020, the Maldivian Red Crescent

established a migrant support centre that engaged migrant volunteers, issued migrants

with beneficiary cards and agreed with local authorities not to share information on

immigration status. Many national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies provid ed

relief, cash and translation assistance, as well as medical, psychosocial and other

services, to migrants, regardless of their migration status. The provision of life -saving

humanitarian assistance to migrants should never be criminalized.

__________________

World Health Organization, “COVID-19 immunization in refugees and migrants: principles and

key considerations”, interim guidance (31 August 2021).

See International Organization for Migration, “Migrant inclusion in COVID -19 vaccination

campaigns”, updated on 10 September 2021.

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57. Efforts to reform policies, practices and discourse must confront xenophobia

and disinformation on migration and migrants and dismantle structural, systemic and

institutional forms of discrimination. Myths, misperceptions and discrimination

against migrants persist. Narratives that falsely associate migrants with criminal

activities or play to anti-immigrant anxieties should never be used to justify policies

and practices. During the pandemic, migrants faced hate speech, racial slurs, stigma

and violence, as well as discriminatory policies and programmes that impaired their

well-being.

58. Various States and stakeholders have sought to tackle those issues. In 2019,

Colombia adopted legislation to outlaw the use of xenophobic narratives about

Venezuelan migrant and refugee communities. Also in 2019, Chad established a

network of journalists to strengthen media coverage and counter misinformation

through evidence-based migration narratives. The “It Takes a Community” campaign,

co-chaired by Canada, Ecuador and the Mayors Mechanism of the Global Forum on

Migration and Development, convenes national and local Governments, businesses,

civil society and international organizations to promote balanced, evidence -based

narratives on migration that show that migrants help to cr eate productive, safe and

welcoming communities.

59. Shifts towards greater inclusion of migrants observed in the context of the

pandemic and beyond demonstrate that progress can be made. Such actions align with

the vision and guiding principles of the Compact and recognize the interconnectedness

of human beings. The benefits can resonate across societies. Those lessons must be

heeded and the opportunity must be seized to catalyse change and work towards the

elimination of inequities for migrants and their children and families.

Promoting safe and regular migration

60. The COVID-19 pandemic has eroded well-established channels of entry for

migrants worldwide, bringing entire immigration systems to a standstill with

attendant delays and lags in their re-establishment, even though demand for migrant

workers remains strong and adverse and complex drivers of migration persist. As

Governments recalibrate migration governance systems (paying attention to the

intensifying impacts of climate change, growing demands for migrant labour across

skill levels, and the knowledge and competencies of returning migrants), rights-based

regular pathways, sustainable reintegration and predictability are vital for realizing

the Compact’s promise and target 10.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals

(Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migratio n and mobility of people,

including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration

policies). States have shown how to do this, including by adopting flexible policies

to prevent migrants from falling into irregular status, regularizing t he status of

migrants in irregular situations and facilitating pathways for entry and stay, including

for family reunification or work.

61. Fulfilling the commitment to expanding and diversifying pathways for safe,

orderly and regular migration is critical for preventing and addressing vulnerabilities

throughout the migration journey. While options to enter and stay, including to work,

reunite with family members or regularize status, have never been available

unconditionally, the resumption of cross-border movements for vaccinated people

while many countries struggle to inoculate a fraction of their population foreshadows

widening inequities. Providing migrants at different skill levels and in different

situations of vulnerability with opportunities for en try and stay reduces the need to

move, live or work in unsafe or irregular conditions.

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62. In the context of the pandemic, Costa Rica regularized the status of migrant

workers in irregular status who were affected by the pandemic, enabling them to

obtain a job in the agricultural sector. The Republic of Korea extended certain

employment contracts and visas. In 2020, Portugal granted temporary residence status

to more than 350,000 migrants, providing them with access to health care, social

support and other rights at the same level as citizens. Thailand granted visa extensions

to about 1 million migrant workers from Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic

Republic and Myanmar, and other migrants were granted automatic visa extensions.

In 2021, the United Kingdom launched a programme allowing international students

with graduate degrees to apply for jobs at any skill level. In 2020, Chile approved an

immigration law to strengthen children’s rights in the context of migration, which

includes a special visa for children and permits children to enter the territory without

travel documentation and prohibits immigration sanctions against children.

63. In 2021, Colombia adopted a temporary protection regime for Venezuelan

nationals wishing to remain in Colombia. The protection visa is valid for 10 years and

includes an identification document that facilitates access to rights and services. The

Netherlands temporarily extended the period for victims of trafficking to report abuse

to the police. In 2020, the Plurinational State of Bolivia adopted a policy to regularize

migrants with irregular status, including Venezuelan children. In 2019, Algeria

adopted a framework to allow migrants at border crossings to obtain a “regularization

visa” in humanitarian situations.

64. The Compact also explicitly addresses regular migration pathways for people

affected by environmental drivers, and a number of States and stakeholders are taking

initial steps to make such pathways a reality. In 2020, the Intergovernmental Authority

on Development adopted a protocol on the free movement of persons that includes

provisions allowing persons affected by disasters to enter and stay in other countries

in the region. In the Pacific region, States, United Nations agencies, the Pacific

Islands Forum Secretariat and other actors support a human rights-based regional

approach to human mobility associated with climate change, including by facilitating

labour migration. In 2021, the United States of America recommended the creation of

a legal pathway for humanitarian protection for people facing serious threats to their

lives because of climate change.

65. Ensuring that any return and readmission are safe and dignified and in accordance

with obligations under international law and that reintegration into home communities

is sustainable is of prominent concern, including in the context of the pandemic.

COVID-19, border closures and other restrictions have made the return, readmission

and reintegration of migrants more complex. In some cases, States have fo rcibly

returned migrants with insufficient regard for health risks or due process and procedural

safeguards, including children’s best interests. Mobility and other restrictions and

capacity limitations constrained the return of migrants who wished to retu rn.

66. Some States suspended forced returns altogether, while others supported the

repatriation of their nationals. Mongolia thus facilitated the return of Mongolian nationals

stranded abroad and provided reintegration assistance through vocational traini ng

courses, access to job placements and basic services. In 2020, the Philippines provided

transportation assistance and a mobile help desk to support its returning nationals.

67. Some migrants who returned have faced reintegration challenges from

overburdened and underequipped health systems, contracting labour markets and

discrimination and stigma. Returning migrants have also struggled to gain access to

decent work opportunities and reintegration support.

68. Some States have supported reintegration and recognized the opportunity to

leverage the skills and knowledge acquired by their returning nationals. In 2020, Viet

Nam launched a “one-stop” office to strengthen capacity to support returning migrant

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women, including through the provision of economic support for reintegration. Nepal

provides a minimum of 100 days of employment per year to unemployed people,

including migrants returning from abroad and those who lost their jobs because of the

pandemic. In 2020, Honduras, United Nations agencies and stakeholders provided

specific reintegration services for returned girls and boys.

69. Clear rules and procedures are equally crucial for re-establishing predictable

pathways for admission, stay and work, for return and readmission and for

safeguarding rights, including at borders. The pandemic led to the introduction of

extraordinary levels of travel and route restrictions, as well as massive delays in visa

processing. New COVID-19 waves and variants and shifting conditions for

admission, stay and work, as well as discriminatory travel bans in a world of vaccine

inequity, continue to disrupt and complicate international migration.

70. Requirements introduced during the pandemic are being consolidated in

modified immigration and border procedures that include, to a greater extent, health

considerations. Disparities in getting access to regular pathways may be heightened

if evolving public health requirements serve as a foundation for increasingly

restrictive policies. Ensuring that any adjustments to immigration and border

management procedures, including digitalization and the use of new technologies,

continue to uphold rights and non-discriminatory opportunities for safe and regular

migration remains vital, so that the most vulnerable do not face the toughest b arriers.

71. Migrants face risks and may be subject to harm throughout the migration

journey, owing in part to a lack of proof of legal identity, insufficient access to

information and lack of predictability in migration procedures. Fulfilling the

commitments on proof of legal identity, accurate and timely information and

predictability is essential for facilitating regular migration and reducing

vulnerabilities in the migration process, as it empowers migrants to gain access to

services and enjoy their rights.

72. The commitment to providing proof of legal identity received relatively limited

attention during regional reviews, despite its foundational role in fulfilling many other

commitments, including access to regular pathways and a safe and dignified return,

and its importance for advancing Sustainable Development Goal target 16.9 (By 2030,

provide legal identity for all, including birth registration). With regular pathways out

of reach, migrants who lack proof of legal identity may resort to irregular channels,

frustrating the Compact’s vision and target 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda and entrenching

existing inequalities. Well-functioning civil registration systems, including with the

capacity to register births and issue documents abroad through consular networks, are

crucial for safe, orderly and regular migration. In countries such as Colombia and

Ecuador, efforts to provide proof of legal identity for migrants have received

considerable support.

73. Promoting regular migration and sustainable reintegration requires a

multifaceted approach, embodying many of the commitments that States have ma de

in the Compact. Accelerating actions in those areas must be an essential aspect of

inclusive recovery.

Preventing loss of life and other tragedies during migration

74. States and stakeholders must reduce vulnerabilities that undermine the human

rights and well-being of migrants and their families, including tragedies that stem from

irregular migration and responses to it. Migrants continue to die, disappear or suffer

along perilous routes that traverse hostile environments on land and at sea, at borders

and in countries of destination. While actual figures are likely to be higher, between

January 2019 and 24 November 2021, more than 8,436 migrant deaths were recorded

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globally, while a further 5,534 migrants went missing and are presumed dead.

The

images of a deceased child migrant washing up on a shore or the burial mound of a

young person in the freezing forested buffer zone between two countries do not convey

the reality for migrants, who continue to die or suffer during their migration journeys.

The profound consequences for families span psychosocial, economic, legal and

administrative challenges. More must be done to put a stop to such preventable tragedies.

75. It is concerning that the loss of migrant lives received relatively limited attention

in the regional reviews. Indeed, since the adoption of the Compact, the commitment

to saving lives and establishing coordinated international efforts on missing migrants

has yet to be translated into meaningful action. The Proyecto Frontera along the

Central American migration route is one initiative in which State authorities and civil

society organizations cooperate to search and identify missing migrants. Efforts to

identify shipwreck victims in Tunisia also serve as an example of State and

stakeholder efforts.

76. Rescue at sea is a basic humanitarian imperative. The absence of clear, safe and

predictable disembarkation mechanisms for rescued people continues to pose

avoidable risks to life in some parts of the world. A global community of practitioners

has developed guidance documents to assist States and other stakeholders in the

implementation of objective 8 of the Compact (Save lives and establish coordinated

international efforts on missing migrants), including regarding the creation of

transnational search mechanisms.

77. Efforts must be extended to preventing deaths and suffering through systemic

and policy changes that address the risks inherent to migration framewor ks. Practices

that exploit people’s situations of vulnerability for political, economic or other ends,

precipitating avertible humanitarian consequences and human rights violations, must

be eliminated.

78. The human rights and humane treatment of migrants must remain at the centre

of all actions. The experience of migrants and their families can provide invaluable

insights for translating stated commitments into effective action. All actors must

engage together in dialogue and analysis and inculcate cooper ation and partnerships

to act in solidarity with and for all people, as part of the collective work to realize the

benefits of migration for all.

IV. United Nations system institutional arrangements in

support of the Compact

79. The United Nations Network on Migration coordinates system-wide support for

States in the implementation of, follow-up to and review of the Compact at the

national, regional and global levels. It offers a platform for stakeholders to engage in

dialogue and the development of tools and guidance in support of the implementation

of the Compact.

80. From the outset, the Principals of the Network’s Executive Committee agreed

on core priorities for the implementation of the Compact at the national, regional and

global levels, including delivering on its call for establishing a capacity-building

__________________

See

https://missingmigrants.iom.int/.

Missing Migrants Project data reflect documented incidents

involving a death or disappearance during migration both on land and at sea; however, it

excludes deaths that occur in immigration detention facilities or after deportation to a migrant’s

homeland, as well as deaths more loosely connected with migrants’ irregular status, such as those

resulting from labour exploitation.

All guidance and tools referenced in the present section are available on the Network’s website at

https://migrationnetwork.un.org/.

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mechanism with a connection hub, a start-up fund and a global knowledge platform.

The Network established thematic priorities in relation to which the United Nations

system could support the implementation of specific objectives of the Compact, while

also adapting to the challenges of the pandemic. Those include multi -stakeholder

work streams, such as on climate change and migration and on the inclusion of

migrants in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Biannual meetings of the

Principals continue to direct the Network’s activities.

81. The Network collaborates closely with the Development Coordination Office of

the United Nations and the resident coordinator system and, more broadly, lever ages

the recent reforms of the United Nations development system for greater impact. The

Network has developed guidance and training for United Nations country teams on

how to support the implementation of the Compact, including through the integration

of migration into the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation

Framework and elaborating on the role of the Compact in achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Training was piloted in Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Morocco,

Thailand and Ukraine and is being adjusted to incorporate lessons learned.

82. The Network developed guidance for Governments and stakeholders to

implement the Compact. The guidance suggests a six-step process for implementing

the Compact objectives and guiding principles, while recognizing the need for a

context-driven, flexible approach. The guidance also highlights the importance of

developing national action plans, based on inclusive consultations, aligned with

international law and national development plans.

83. To mainstream the Compact in national planning and implementation, including

within the framework of the 2030 Agenda, more than 50 country networks were

established and integrated into over one third of the United Nations country teams

across the globe. The country networks align with the repositioning of the United

Nations development system and provide coordinated support from the United

Nations system on migration. In Bangladesh, the Network supported the Government

in responding to the impact of COVID-19 on Bangladeshi migrants, convened

workshops to solicit inputs for the national action plan on Compact implementation

and produced evidence to support interventions. Country networks advised

Governments on their voluntary reviews of the Compact and organiz ed consultations

with civil society. In addition, six regional networks were established to strengthen

regional and subregional cooperation and supported the regional reviews.

84. As a component of the capacity-building mechanism, the Network established

the migration multi-partner trust fund in 2019, the first United Nations inter-agency

pooled funding instrument in the field of migration.

Aligned with the 2030 Agenda,

the programmatic scope of the trust fund embraces the 360-degree approach of the

Compact, clustering all 23 objectives under five thematic areas. The steering

committee of the fund includes countries of origin, destination and transit, donors,

stakeholders and Network entities. It is chaired by the Director-General of IOM as

the Network Coordinator, who ensures that the fund is governed in an inclusive and

transparent manner. Programmes supported by the fund are designed and

implemented by Governments and stakeholders, including civil society, migrants and

communities. A results-based framework tracks the alignment of programmes with

the Compact’s guiding principles through a set of indicators.

85. As at the end of November 2021, 12 joint programmes that involved countries

from different regions and brought together 12 participating United Nations

organizations had been funded. The programmes focus on governance of labour

migration, migration data, families remaining in countries of origin, trafficking in

__________________

See

https://migrationnetwork.un.org/mptf.

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persons, border management and social cohesion, managing health risks, migration

in the context of disasters and climate change, recruitment and reintegration, and

capacity-building for local governments to strengthen socioeconomic integration.

86. From the 113 concept notes submitted, the steering committee has identified 34

joint programmes, 10 of which are ready for implementation. The large number of

concept notes indicates a strong demand from States. As of November 2021,

$30 million had been contributed by 12 donors, although strong funding momentum

stalled during 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

87. The Migration Network Hub, launched in March 2021, is a virtual, interactive

“meeting space” where Governments, stakeholders and experts can gain access to,

request and share migration-related information and services. It hosts up-to-date,

peer-reviewed and curated research, evidence and analyses on all aspects of

migration, including Network knowledge products. The interface is organized along

the objectives and guiding principles of the Compact, as well as by geographical

scope. It includes more than 1,000 resources, in several United Nations languages,

which have been reviewed by a regionally balanced peer-review mechanism. The hub

also provides online discussion spaces, a repository of practices and a database of

over 1,150 registered experts. Additional funding is needed to ensure sustainability

and create a more user-friendly interface.

88. Thematic working groups, leveraging United Nations and multi-stakeholder

expertise and capacity, developed products to support the realization of specific

objectives of the Compact and issued common Network positions. For instance, the

Network issued a policy brief on COVID-19 and immigration detention and knowledge

products on alternatives to immigration detention and organized peer-learning

exchanges with States; a guidance note on regular pathways for admission and stay for

migrants in situations of vulnerability; guidance to support States in negotiating,

designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating rights-based bilateral labour

migration agreements; a position paper and related tools on ensuring a safe an d dignified

return and sustainable reintegration, which includes common principles to guide

coordinated action; and a policy brief on enhancing access to services for migrants in

the context of COVID-19 preparedness, prevention, and response and beyond.

89. As elaborated in section II, the Network supported the organization of regional

reviews of the implementation of the Compact for the member States of the regional

commissions of the United Nations. Similarly, the Network, through its regional

networks, facilitated stakeholder consultations and participation in the regional reviews.

90. Efforts were undertaken to broaden stakeholder inclusion and leverage their

expertise. Stakeholders co-led or participated in working groups. The Network

coordinated online webinars and listening sessions on mobility in the time of

COVID-19 and quarterly consultations, which engaged stakeholders across the world,

including grass-roots organizations and young people. Selected regional and country

networks created structured opportunities for stakeholder engagement.

91. The Network supported States during the negotiations of the 2021 ministerial

declaration of the high-level political forum on sustainable development. The

Network also supported the Commission on Crime Prevent ion and Criminal Justice

of the Economic and Social Council and the Global Forum on Remittances,

Investment and Development. Ahead of the twenty-sixth session of the Conference of

the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, th e

Network issued a statement on migration scenarios in a changing climate, working

collaboratively with migration and climate change stakeholders.

92. Looking ahead, now that it has established itself through its workplans,

increased presence at the regional and national levels and efforts to strengthen

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collaboration, engagement and linkages, the Network has the potential to expand

support for States and stakeholders in a more sustained manner. Increasingly, it issues

timely statements and positions, speaking with one voice on critical aspects of

migration and migrant rights.

V. Conclusion and recommendations

93. States and stakeholders are encouraged to pledge concrete actions for the

implementation of the Compact, where possible in advance of the first International

Migration Review Forum. This will be critical in ensuring tangible progress in

moving forward with this cooperative framework for the benefit of all.

94. The progress declaration will provide an opportunity for States to reaffirm th eir

commitment to the implementation of the Compact and to develop actionable

recommendations that address systemic, emerging and unanticipated challenges in

migration governance.

95. The human rights of migrants and the prosperity and well-being of communities

should be at the centre of all that is done. This includes meaningfully engaging

migrants and host communities, including children and young people, in decisions

that concern them. Today’s world is more interdependent than ever and faces

intractable and unpredictable challenges, which are undermining the social contract

upon which collective peace and progress depend. More stable, equitable and just

societies cannot be built and such challenges cannot be overcome if the participation,

contributions or well-being of some are ignored. In particular, narratives that depict

migrants solely in terms of the perceived benefits that they bring, as a burden or,

worse, as a threat, deny them dignity and agency. They also expose them to

discrimination and danger and are contrary to the overwhelming evidence that

migration contributes to shared prosperity.

96. The present report shows how Governments can put in place laws, policies and

practices consistent with the commitments and guiding principles of the Compact and

how they can lead by example, demonstrating our common humanity. We have shown

that we can do better, and we must.

97. Throughout the present report, recommendations are provided on how to ensure

safe, orderly and regular migration and fulfil the pro mise of the Compact, in

accordance with its vision and guiding principles. Additional actionable

recommendations are elaborated upon below, recognizing that cooperation and

partnerships remain essential for their achievement.

Promoting inclusive societies and including migrants in COVID-19

response and recovery

98. States and stakeholders are urged to ensure that all migrants are granted and

enabled to gain access to essential health services and continuity of care, including

COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and treatment, regardless of migration status, and in

line with the principles of universal health coverage.

99. States are urged to ensure that migrants and returning migrants are included in

development, social protection, and socioeconomic response and recovery

frameworks, drawing on lessons learned from the pandemic.

100. States are urged to establish mechanisms to separate immigration enforcement

activities from service provision, including access to basic services.

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Promoting safe and regular migration

101. States are urged to cooperate through State-led and other regional, subregional

and cross-regional processes and platforms to expand and diversify rights -based

pathways for regular migration. Such efforts should be grounded in labour market

realities and decent work; promote pathways for migrants affected by disasters,

climate change and environmental degradation and other migrants in vulnerable

situations; and facilitate family reunification and regularization f or migrants in

irregular situations.

102. States are urged to comply with the obligation of non-refoulement at borders

and to stop forced returns in situations where the health, safety, dignity and human

rights of migrants and communities of origin and transit cannot be safeguarded. At all

times, States are urged to uphold the best interests of children.

103. States are urged to cooperate with other States and local governments, including

through their consular and diplomatic missions, to uphold the right to proof of legal

identity for all migrants, regardless of status, by ensuring that all children are

registered at birth and by providing identification documents to prove legal identity

and facilitate access to services, participation and protection of r ights.

Preventing loss of life and other tragedies during migration

104. States are urged to develop clear, safe and predictable disembarkation

mechanisms for rescued people, whereby coastal States take equal responsibility in

providing a place of safety, in accordance with international law, joined in solidarity

by other States, in lieu of ad hoc approaches that undermine human rights, including

the right to life.

105. States are urged to comply with their international obligations at borders an d

along migratory routes and to safeguard human rights, counteracting the erosion of

humane and rights-based border management systems and deterrence-based

approaches.

106. States are urged to stop obstructing humanitarian efforts aimed at providing life -

saving assistance and criminalizing those who provide such humanitarian assistance,

including by ensuring that criminal liability for migrant smuggling is in accordance

with international law.

107. States are urged to assess the consequences of restrictive, deterrence-based

migration-related laws, policies and practices and to revise those, as necessary, to

mitigate potential negative consequences.

Building capacity

108. States are encouraged to meet the migration multi-partner trust fund

capitalization target of $70 million by the time of the International Migration Review

Forum in 2022, and to use it to reflect on thematic priorities and provide guidance on

the strategic direction of the trust fund, to cement its relevance and potential and to

sustain support.

109. States are encouraged to integrate migration as a core, cross-cutting issue in

sustainable development and other applicable frameworks, including by developing

ambitious national plans to implement the Compact, to strengthen its implemen tation,

follow-up and review.

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110. States are encouraged to consider how to develop benchmarks and mechanisms

to measure progress on, and monitor the implementation of, the commitments in the

Compact, taking account of existing mechanisms, such as the Sus tainable

Development Goal indicator framework, where relevant.

111. States, the United Nations system and stakeholders are encouraged to use the

Migration Network Hub systematically to promote the cross-fertilization and

exchange of ideas and disseminate information and good practices, including as they

relate to priority issues, in order to fulfil the commitments made by States in the

Compact.

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