The Eighth Global Meeting of inter-State consultation mechanisms on migration (GRCP 8) took place on 5 April 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme “Advancing a common understanding of migration governance across regions”. Organized on the eve of a new decade, GRCP 8 revisited ISCMs’ achievements (e.g. policies, structures, partnership models) and identify a way forward to their renewed role in the evolving migration governance architecture.

The event provided a forum for Inter-State Consultation Mechanisms on Migration [ISCMs, including regional consultative processes on migration, interregional forums on migration and global processes on migration] to jointly consider ISCM’s contributions to migration governance at all levels, their achievements, effective practices, structures and partnership models.

The following issues were addressed during GRCP 8:

  • Continued relevance of ISCMs in the current migration governance architecture.
  • Shaping by ISCM of migration governance and policies at all levels.
  • Strengthening the ISCM sustainability.
  • Fostering synergies and partnerships among ISCMs and with other actors.

In anticipation of GRCP 8, IOM pursued an Assessment of ISCMs to review ISCMs’ contribution to migration governance at all levels, the evolution in their structures, sustainability, synergies and partnerships. The preliminary findings of this Assessment were presented at GRCP 8 to seek ISCMs’ reflection on these findings. The Assessment comprised desktop research of materials by and on ISCMs, a survey (among ISCMs, States participating in ISCMs and organizations engaged with ISCMs) and telephone interviews conducted prior to the GRCP. 

GRCP 8 and the ISCM Assessment allowed to:

  • Review the extensive contribution by inter-State consultation mechanisms to migration governance at all levels. 
  • Group into patterns the various structures of the inter-State consultation mechanisms on migration.
  • Expand on existing synergies among the inter-State consultation mechanisms on migration.
  • Illustrate the many partnerships inter-State consultation mechanisms on migration have developed throughout the years.
  • Revisit the variables at play in the sustainability of inter-State consultation mechanisms on migration.

Session 2 on migration governance confirmed once again that inter-State consultation mechanisms remain the main State-led expertized actors on migration matters at the regional level and represent important actors at the global level.

Session 3 on structures and sustainability demonstrated how the inter-State consultation mechanisms on migration have successfully continued over time as informal yet increasingly meaningful players in migration governance.

The Working Lunch and Session 4 on synergies and partnerships highlighted existing and ever-growing alliances among ISCMs themselves and with an increasing array of partner entities in the spirit of whole-of-society approach to migration governance. 

The concluding elements arising out of these Sessions and building on the preliminary findings of the Assessment have led to the formulation of the GRCP 8 key outcomes to be included in the ISCM Assessment Report produced after the GRCP.
 

Agenda

Preliminary agenda

09:45 –  10:15

Opening Session
10:15 – 11:30

Session 1.  Inter-State Consultation Mechanisms on Migration: Achievements and Lessons Learnt
11:15 – 13:00

Session 2.  ISCMs’ Contribution to Migration Governance at National, Regional and Global Levels.
14:30 – 16:00

Session 3.  Structures and Sustainability
15:45 – 17:00

Session 4.  Synergies and Partnerships
17:15 – 17:30

Closing Session

Participation to GRCP 8 is by invitation only.

Key documents
Presentations

Opening Remarks

Session 1: 

Session 2: 

Session 3: 

 

Related links

 

 

Related Topics & Pages

Global ISCM Meetings
Inter-State Consultation Mechanisms on Migration