Significance of the Marrakech Migration Pact
In a significant address delivered in New York, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, commonly referred to as the "Marrakech Pact," represents a pivotal step in the realm of multilateral cooperation. During the opening session of the second International Migration Review Forum, which runs from May 5 to May 8, Guterres pointed out that since its adoption in 2018, member states have taken tangible measures to expand safe migration pathways and enhance initiatives related to labor mobility. He underscored that these commitments also pertain to improving search and rescue operations, developing data systems, and encouraging safer return and reintegration processes for migrants.
According to the UN chief, this forum, held every four years, provides a platform to assess the progress made in implementing these commitments, candidly address challenges, and set future priorities. However, Guterres acknowledged that no country can manage migration issues in isolation, stressing that such endeavors require coordinated cooperation across borders, governments, and society. To tackle the numerous challenges posed by migration, he highlighted the necessity of prioritizing human rights within any migration policy, urging governments to double their efforts to eliminate discriminatory practices. This includes ensuring migrants have actual access to education, housing, healthcare, and social protection while implementing more stringent measures to protect women and girls from human trafficking and gender-based violence.
Enhancing Safety and Cooperation in Migration
Guterres advocated for making migration "safer" through the establishment of early warning systems, improved data provision, and enhanced collaboration to identify and assist vulnerable migrants. He also mentioned the need for decisive action against traffickers and smugglers through robust cooperation mechanisms. In concluding his remarks, he called for the creation of safe and orderly migration pathways for students, workers of varying skill levels, families, and those seeking safety and protection.
In conjunction with Guterres's address, IOM Director General Amy Pope stated that when managed effectively, migration can offer opportunities for development and growth. She elucidated that migration helps fill labor shortages, responds to demographic changes, stimulates economic growth, and enhances development through financial remittances and skill transfer. She emphasized the importance of strengthening international cooperation to build organized and fair systems, noting that the challenge is undoubtedly formidable and complex, particularly in a geopolitical context marked by uncertainty and division. Pope concluded by reaffirming that trust lies at the heart of this challenge, both among nations and in the belief that migration can be managed in a systematic, humane, and beneficial manner.
As reported by maroc24.com.
