Credit to Author: Margaret Jetelina| Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2018 18:29:40 +0000

The United Nations’ Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration is the first global framework on international migration

More than 258 million migrants in the world are living outside their country of birth today — a 49 per cent increase compared to 2000. Of these, 68.5 million are refugees who are forced to flee their homes due to violence, discrimination and war.

This number is only expected to rise for a number of reasons including population growth, demographic imbalances, inequality, war and climate change.

In response, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants in 2016, effectively launching processes to create two non-legally binding global compacts: the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees.

Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration

The first global framework on all aspects of international migration, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration has been released, and the Government of Canada announced today it has adopted the compact. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen made the announcement at the Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in Marrakech, Morocco.

“Comprehensive national migration systems can help drive innovation, economic growth and social stability. Our government believes that this Global Compact is not only an effective way to address the challenges that migration can bring, but is also an opportunity for nations to harness the contributions of newcomers and to ensure their successful integration into new countries,” Hussen said.

The GCM acknowledges the serious challenges that irregular migration poses, while emphasizing the positive contributions of migrants, and the benefits of regular pathways and well-managed migration systems

The Compact sets out 23 objectives for better managing migration at local, national, regional and global levels. Canada has been actively engaged in the development of the GCM, including the majority of the almost 200 action items, which reflect Canadian practices.

Countries who adopt the compact are not expected to implement each action, but to view them as examples of best practices on how to achieve the objectives.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland said: “The compact is an important international framework to better manage and address global migration challenges, as well as improve co-operation between countries. It contributes to a rules-based international system, and furthers a global approach to migration, which is based on facts, stands up for human rights and works to eliminate gender-based violence.”

The Migration Compact’s 23 objectives are:

1. Collect and utilize accurate and disaggregated data as a basis for evidence-based policies
2. Minimize the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their country of origin
3. Provide accurate and timely information at all stages of migration
4. Ensure that all migrants have proof of legal identity and adequate documentation
5. Enhance availability and flexibility of pathways for regular migration
6. Facilitate fair and ethical recruitment and safeguard conditions that ensure decent work
7. Address and reduce vulnerabilities in migration
8. Save lives and establish coordinated international efforts on missing migrants
9. Strengthen the transnational response to smuggling of migrants
10. Prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration
11. Manage borders in an integrated, secure and coordinated manner
12. Strengthen certainty and predictability in migration procedures for appropriate screening, assessment and referral
13. Use migration detention only as a measure of last resort and work towards alternatives
14. Enhance consular protection, assistance and cooperation throughout the migration cycle
15. Provide access to basic services for migrants
16. Empower migrants and societies to realize full inclusion and social cohesion
17. Eliminate all forms of discrimination and promote evidence-based public discourse to shape perceptions of migration
18. Invest in skills development and facilitate mutual recognition of skills, qualifications and competences
19. Create conditions for migrants and diasporas to fully contribute to sustainable development in all countries
20. Promote faster, safer and cheaper transfer of remittances and foster financial inclusion of migrants
21. Cooperate in facilitating safe and dignified return and readmission, as well as sustainable reintegration
22. Establish mechanisms for the portability of social security entitlements and earned benefits
23. Strengthen international cooperation and global partnerships for safe, orderly and regular migration

http://canadianimmigrant.ca/feed