Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) in collaboration with the Cross-Regional Center for Refugees and Migrants (CCRM) organized the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Consultation on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) on 30-31 August 2018 in Beirut, Lebanon. The meeting brought together around 35 participants from representing civil society organizations, trade unions and media. Participants invited to the program were organizations working in the region who have been involved in the GCM process and support the ongoing advocacy work in the region.

The consultation focused on the following objectives: (1) have a debrief on the GCM, (2) develop a regional civil society perspective and analysis of the final text of the GCM, (3) develop strategies on civil society’s role in the implementation, follow up and review (IFUR), and (4) create links and synergies with UN organizations, and other institutions that will play a key role in the IFUR at the regional level.

The consultation falls within a larger strategy of engaging civil society actors in the region, creating synergies and building their capacity at the regional and national levels to engage with the GCM and other policy processes. This also builds on the previous MENA civil society consultations particularly the MENA Civil Society Consultation on the Global Compact on Migration which took place in Beirut on 24-25 August 2017 and a more focused consultation for Civil Society in the Gulf Cooperation Council held in Beirut on 24-25 of September 2017.

The consultation included a debriefing for the civil society to know what has transpired during the intergovernmental negotiations meeting of the GCM. Participants were given the space to express their thoughts and analysis on the GCM as well as provide their assessment on what are the gains or losses.

The participants focused on discussing 5 thematic areas: (1) distinction between regular and irregular migrants in the compact, (2) labor in the global compact, (3) access to basic services, (4) refugees vs migrants, and (5) return and reintegration. The aforementioned thematic areas are the issues that are most relevant in the context of the MENA region.

The participants also looked into the IFUR of the GCM to see what role CSOs play towards and after the adoption of the GCM in Marrakesh.

Representatives from international organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) were also given the space to discuss their assessment on the GCM and what their respective organizations are planning in terms of preparations for the implementation of the GCM as well as the actual implementation of the GCM.

Please find below some photos of the program.

For more information please contact William Gois of the MFA Secretariat at: mfa@mfasia.org.