TIME

1:00pm – 3:00pm (EDT/New York)

THEME

Global Compact for Migration

LOCATION

Virtual

Organizers and co-sponsors

Organized by: Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)  
Cosponsored by: Bangladesh, Colombia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco 

Background

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) rests on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international human rights instruments. At its core, the GCM recognizes that safe, orderly and regular migration is only possible when migrants’ rights and dignity are upheld, and when particular attention is paid to those in vulnerable situations. Through its guiding principle on human rights, States have committed to implement the GCM by ensuring the effective, protection and fulfilment of all migrants, regardless of status, and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against migrants and their families. 

As the leading UN agency on the human rights of migrants, and to support the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), OHCHR convened a high-level Side Event on the margins of the IMRF on "Upholding the human rights guiding principle in the Global Compact for Migration".

Objectives

The Side Event aimed to:

• encourage better understanding of human rights-based approaches to migration governance;
• facilitate dialogue and the sharing of promising practices on upholding the human rights guiding principle of the GCM;
• highlight examples of how States and stakeholder partners are implementing laws, policies and practices that fulfil the vision and objectives of the GCM by prioritizing human rights protection;
• provide a platform for the exchange of promising actions to reduce migrants’ vulnerability to human rights violations and to provide protection to migrants in vulnerable situations. 

Format

The Side Event is open to the participation of Member States and other relevant stakeholders, including United Nations entities, representatives of subregional and regional organisations, international human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations, migrants, and relevant stakeholders from across the world. Participants are encouraged to intervene in an interactive way, through questions, comments and sharing of experiences, promising practices and challenges as well as suggested recommendations on the way forward, with a view to stimulating a constructive debate. The Side Event is being held in English only.

Documents

• Save the Date
• Updated - Concept Note
• Updated - Agenda
• Webex Virtual Events Participant Guide

Statements

• Welcome and opening remarks
  • Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • H.E. Ms. Rabab Fatima, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN and co-facilitator of the intergovernmental consultations on the GCM Progress Declaration (forthcoming)
  • H.E. Mr. Olivier Maes, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the UN and co-facilitator of the intergovernmental consultations on the GCM Progress Declaration
  • Ms. Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy at United We Dream
• Moderated panel discussion
  • Ms. María Carmelina Londoño, Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs, Colombia
  • H.E. Ms. Francisca E. Méndez Escobar, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the UN Office at Geneva
  • H.E. Mr. Omar Zniber, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UN Office at Geneva
  • Mr. Walter Kälin, Envoy of the Chair and Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Platform on Disaster Displacement
  • Ms. Camila Barretto Maia, International Coordinator of El Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales Argentina
  • Ms. Zino Onokaye-Akaka, Project Coordinator at Media Movers
• Closing remarks
  • Mr. Felipe Gonzalez Morales, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants

Related links

• OHCHR | International Migration Review Forum
• OHCHR | Global Compact for Migration