Migration governance must change, Deputy declares

Excellencies, distinguished participants,

I am honoured to conclude today's second Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration in the UNECE Region.

The Global Compact for Migration serves as a beacon, guiding us towards enhanced cooperation on migration governance while placing individuals at its core. It underscores the imperative of ensuring respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the human rights of all migrants, irrespective of their migration status.

The timeliness of this Regional Review cannot be overstated. With global elections looming in 2024, over 70 elections this year, up to four billion people going to the polls, we are witnessing the troubling politicization of migration. Dehumanizing rhetoric and divisive narratives during election campaigns are perpetuating harmful stereotypes about migrants, portraying them as scapegoats for broader societal challenges and stripping them of their humanity and human rights. Despite these challenges, the Global Compact offers a powerful counter-narrative, urging us to transcend polarized mindsets and embrace narratives of inclusion.

Amidst the troubling surge of securitized and restrictive approaches to migration, there is an urgent call for a fundamental shift towards strategies centred on human rights and protection, acknowledging the critical need to address vulnerabilities in this context, notably for children. As stressed by the UN (United Nations) Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, “children should be considered as children first and foremost. Detention is never in their best interest.” Central to this transformation is the pressing need to create and expand pathways for safe and regular migration grounded on human rights and humanitarian considerations – for children to see their best interests prioritized, families to be reunited, and victims of gender-based violence to adequate receive rehabilitation and support. As underlined in the stakeholder hearing this morning, it is crucial to move away from criminalization and toward regularization. Without these accessible avenues, migrants are forced into perilous and irregular journeys, risking their lives and dignity, and being exposed to human rights violations and abuses. These pathways underscore our collective commitment to uphold the dignity and rights of every individual, emphasizing the human stakes involved in migration policies.

As we evaluate progress under the Global Compact, it is crucial to integrate its principles into the ongoing negotiations and implementation of legal and policy frameworks within the UNECE region. The Global Compact serves as a guiding compass, steering decision-makers towards policies that prioritize human rights, dignity, and respect for all migrants, and that ensures their meaningful participation in all decisions affecting them. From ending arbitrary detention and halting child immigration detention, to conducting individual vulnerability assessments and ensuring that returns are safe and dignified, the Global Compact offers a solid framework for action. And it is excellent to have Feblezi [Huebis - Migrant Youth & Children Platform] voice on this Panel, strong and determined, on behalf of particularly vulnerable groups.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Migration governance is a complex reality that demands enhanced international and regional cooperation, strengthened multilateralism, and more solidarity. States of the UNECE region are urged to leverage the Global Compact in their policies and practices, maximizing synergies with ongoing processes. The UN stands ready to provide system-wide support in this endeavour.

Throughout today's discussions, promising practices have been highlighted, demonstrating the potential for further cooperation and collaboration at the international, regional, and national level. It is essential to build upon these successes and foster inclusive processes that engage all relevant stakeholders, including migrants themselves. Together, let us advance a collective vision of migration governance rooted in human rights, leaving no migrant behind