Dear Friends

Greetings from the MFA Secretariat!

We are sharing with you general updates through the past and upcoming meetings and consultations related to the GCM:

• Expert Symposium on International Migration and Development (26 February, New York)
• High Level Debate on International Migration and Development (27 February, New York)
• International Dialogue on Migration (28 February, New York)
• First GFMD Thematic Workshop of the year, focusing on ‘Implementation of the Global Compact for Migration at the National Level’ (21 – 22 March, Geneva)
• Consultation of the UN Network on Migration with Civil Society (4 April, Geneva)
• Meeting with Civil Society on the Modalities of the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) (3 – 4 May, Cox’s Bazar)

Expert Symposium on International Migration and Development (26 February, New York)

The symposium was convened in lieu of the annual coordination meeting on international migration, which has been organized by the Population Division since 2001. This year’s purpose is to:

(a) highlight opportunities for addressing issues related to migration and development in the high-level political forum on sustainable development to be held in July and September 2019,

(b) discuss ways and means of improving the collection and use of migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and

(c) present and share information on recent initiatives on international migration and development.

More information and relevant documents can be accessed through this link:

https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/events/other/symposium/201902/index.asp

High Level Debate on International Migration and Development (27 February, New York)

On 27 February, the High Level Debate on International Migration and Development was held. The first session focused on providing a high-level and strategic overview on the progress in achieving the various goals/targets around migration. The second and last session focused on addressing capacity building gaps, mobilizing resources and developing processes and policies and building partnerships. It looked at how to further make progress on the Goals including the challenges and opportunities. The speakers focused on addressing capacity building gaps, mobilizing resources for migration governance, linking to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and learning of innovative technologies, processes or policy developments. Furthermore, as cooperation and collaboration are essential in these areas, the session also highlighted the importance of partnerships. MFA, as member and chair of the Global Coalition on Migration, was part of the panel to share good practices, as well as gaps, and recommendations on partnerships.

More information and relevant documents can be accessed through this link:

https://www.un.org/pga/73/event/high-level-debate-on-international-migration-and-development/

International Dialogue on Migration (28 February, New York)

This year’s IDM focused on youth and migration: Engaging youth as key partners in migration governance. The 2019 IDM aims to respond to the calls for greater engagement with youth made by participants at IDM and it is aligned with the United Nations Youth Strategy, which recognizes the potential of the youth to advance progress in many policy areas, considering young people’s first-hand experience. The IDM aims to generate informative discussions that governments and other partners can employ in designing appropriate policies to manage youth migration and youth engagement in sustainable development strategies especially as countries are assessing progress towards several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relevant to migrants and migration in July 2019 at the United Nations’ (UN) high-level political forum (HLPF) on sustainable development. The results and recommendations from IDM will be captured in the IDM Red Book which will be shared broadly.

MFA was invited to be part of the panel on “Addressing capacity building gaps, mobilizing resources and developing processes and policies and building partnerships”, to give an overview on the progress made in achieving the various goals/targets around migration including identify gaps and new or emerging issues–from the perspective of youth and MFA.

More information and relevant documents can be accessed through this link:

https://www.iom.int/idm-2019-youth-and-migration-engaging-youth-key-partners-migration-governance

First GFMD Thematic Workshop of the year, focusing on ‘Implementation of the Global Compact for Migration at the National Level’ (21 – 22 March, Geneva)

The Workshop, co-convened by the Governments of the Philippines and Bahrain, will focus on the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) at the national level, particularly Objectives 5, 6, and 23, which respectively address the issues of regular pathways for migration; fair and ethical recruitment and decent work; and international cooperation and global partnerships. This workshop also seeks to support Ecuador`s overall thematic agenda and priorities, including contributing to the implementation of the GCM.

Attached in this email is the draft concept note as well as Ecuador’s thematic agenda and priorities.

More information and relevant documents can be accessed through this link:

https://gfmd.org/docs/ecuador-2019

Consultation of the UN Network on Migration with Civil Society (4 April, Geneva)

As part of fulfilling paragraph 45 of the GCM, the UN Network on Migration with IOM as the Secretariat, a consultation with civil society will be held to exchange ideas, inputs, and recommendations, on the structure of the network, mainly on its meaningful engagement with civil society. Attached are the invitation, the UN Network on Migration TOR, and the FAQs on the Migration Cooperation Fund.

More information on this will be shared soon, but you may email unmignet@iom.int for in inquiries in general.

Meeting with Civil Society on the Modalities of the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) (3 – 4 May, Cox’s Bazar)

As mentioned in our previous circular, Bangladesh and Mexico have been appointed as co-chairs to lead open, transparent and inclusive consultations with Member States to determine the modalities and organizational aspects of the IMRF. The negotiations will start in July 2019, and it was announced recently that they will be holding a consultation with civil society in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. More information on this will be shared soon.

For your reference, below is the link to view our previous circulars and its attached documents:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1eAP-ErfJgq1P34Gu2J4n19TVOcpfKdxR

Sincerely,
MFA Secretariat

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