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Selfish, irresponsible nations turn back against the Global Compact for Migration – turn back against human rights

22/11/18

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) is a non-binding "intergovernmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, that covers all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner". The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is expected to be the first, intergovernmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. It presents a significant opportunity to improve the governance on migration, to address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and to strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.
The agreement is expected to be formally adopted in December during a meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco, but members of the United Nations rose and applauded as the agreement was announced at its New York headquarters. The goal of the agreement is to preserve the basic human rights of all migrants, António Guterres, the United Nations secretary general said.
“This action has immense potential to help the world harness the benefits of regular migration while safeguarding against the dangers of irregular movements that place people at risk,” Mr. Guterres said.
More than 258 million people worldwide are international migrants, according to the United Nations, and that number will only grow in coming years. And migration has proved dangerous and even deadly for those on the move. At least 60,000 people migrating internationally have died since 2000, while crossing the sea, traveling through inhospitable landscapes, in detention or elsewhere. Often, migrants and refugees are “demonized and attacked,” Mr. Guterres said.
Mr. Guterres applauded the new agreement as a mechanism for change and stressed the need for countries to respect the inherent human rights of migrants.
“Countries have the right and even the responsibility to determine their own migration policies, and to responsibly manage their borders,” Mr. Guterres said. “But they must do so in full respect for human rights.”
The agreement is a necessary mechanism for a world where migration was an undeniable reality. Unfortunately, the Australian government has recently signalled the possibility that it may withdraw from the process – which would make it the third UN member state after the US and Hungary to do so. There is a risk that others may follow, jeopardizing a fragile, hard-won consensus at its most critical stage.
This is the case for the Global Compact that deserves to be heard.
1. The Global Compact will directly benefit all countries
The purpose of the Global Compact is to strengthen international cooperation on migration. There is no question that such cooperation is urgently needed and much overdue. While the international community has made extraordinary progress is regulating other areas of common interest and concern – from trade to terrorism, from finance to use of force – migration has long been sidelined as too difficult.
But times have changed, and there is now widespread agreement that no country can “deal” with migration alone – that working together is the only way to make sure migration works for everyone. The Global Compact process has given every member state of the UN the chance to participate in creating a set of broad operating principles within which future cooperation can be structured and implemented. To stand outside that process, or to abandon it just short of the finishing line, is to deny the stark reality of our interdependence when it comes to migration.
2. The Global Compact is not a threat to any country’s sovereignty
The US, Hungary and Australia have all asserted the Global Compact for Migration represents a threat to their sovereignty; that it will force them to take actions against their interests; that it will create some kind of unelected authorityto sit in judgment above their institutions.
This is not the case. When UN member states meet in Morocco in December to sign off on the Global Compact (and its companion, the Compact on Refugees), they will be signalling two things: first, their assent to its basic principles, and second, an intention to do their best to implement what has been agreed. Development of the Global Compact was only possible because all countries agreed, from the beginning, that it would not impose legal obligations. A core guiding principle of the final text explicitly affirms “the sovereign right of states to determine their national migration policy and their prerogative to govern migration within their jurisdiction in accordance with international law”.
3. The Global Compact is pragmatic and balanced – even on the most difficult issues
The Global Compact addresses some of the thorniest aspects of migration, marking out narrow but important areas of accord.
The issue of return is one example. Subject to certain protections being in place, states are entitled to remove migrants who do not have a legal right to remain in their territory. But without cooperation from the country of origin, repatriation is invariably slow and often hostile. The Global Compact identifies the complementary responsibilities of countries of destination and countries of origin to “facilitate[e] safe and dignified return and readmission, as well as sustainable reintegration”. By doing this, it creates a framework that can be the basis of a genuine partnership. This won’t solve the problem of return and reintegration, but it’s much better than what we have now.
The United States had initially participated in the negotiations, but it abruptly withdrew under orders from the Trump administration, which has taken an increasingly hostile view toward cross-border migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. It argued that such multinational agreements subverted the power of individual governments to control national borders.
J. Kevin Appleby, the senior director of international migration policy at the Center for Migration Studies in New York, said the agreement was a positive step forward. Still, he said, given the hostilities facing migrants, “the devil will be in how it is implemented around the world.” “The U.S. can try to throw up walls, both virtual and literal, against migration, but the key to managing it effectively and humanely is through global cooperation,” Mr. Appleby said./.
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All comments [ 7 ]


For A Peace World 24/11/18 09:36

The global compact for migration will be the first, inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

Socialist Society 24/11/18 09:37

The global compact is a significant opportunity to improve the governance on migration, to address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and to strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.

Me Too! 24/11/18 09:39

It's funny that those countries like U.S. and Western nations always call themselves as protectors of human rights, they can not decide on migrates' rights.

Vietnam Love 24/11/18 09:41

The global compact is non-legally binding. It is grounded in values of state sovereignty, responsibility-sharing, non-discrimination, and human rights, and recognizes that a cooperative approach is needed to optimize the overall benefits of migration, while addressing its risks and challenges for individuals and communities in countries of origin, transit and destination.

Voice of people 24/11/18 11:41

The compact aims to mitigate the adverse drivers and structural factors that hinder people from building and maintaining sustainable livelihoods in their countries of origin.

John Smith 24/11/18 17:06

America and Australia have proved that when related to interests, there's no human rights or humane values anymore. So hypocrites!

Red Star 24/11/18 21:38

Vietnam is ready ro join the compact, we respect migrates' rights.

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