Egypt - The Arab Regional Consultative Process on Migration (ARCP) is meeting in Cairo, Egypt on 2-3 August to discuss the themes and coordinate its position ahead of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants on 19 September in New York.

The meeting is organized by the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States (Population Policies, Expatriates and Migration Department), in its capacity as the technical secretariat of the ARCP, in collaboration with IOM and UNHCR.

On 19 September the UN General Assembly will address large movements of refugees and migrants, with the aim of bringing countries together behind a more humane and coordinated approach.

The meeting being held in Cairo by the ARCP brings together representatives of the 22 Member States of the League of Arab States, as well as expert speakers from the Arab League, IOM, UNHCR and other UN agencies. Karen Abu Zayd, the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the high-level plenary meeting, will open the event.

Topics under discussion will include addressing the root causes of refugees’ large movements; addressing drivers of migration, particularly large movements and highlighting the positive contributions of migrants; international action and cooperation on refugees, migrants and related issues of displacement: the way forward; the Global Compact on responsibility-sharing for refugees and respect for the international law; the Global Compact for safe, regular and orderly migration: towards a sustainable development plan 2030, and achieve full respect for human rights of migrants; and addressing vulnerabilities of refugees and migrants on their journey from their countries of origin to their countries of destination.

IOM will present an overview of migration trends and drivers in the Arab region and outline its proposals for a Global Compact for safe, regular and orderly migration. It will draw on the 2015 Situation Report on International Migration in the Arab Region, published by IOM and the UNESCWA, and IOM’s Migration Governance Framework. It will also update Arab States on the recent launch of the Guidelines of the Migrants in Countries in Crisis Initiative.

The Arab Regional Consultative Process was officially launched in October 2015 and its members comprise all 22 states of the League of Arab States.

For more information, please contact Karoline Popp at the IOM MENA Regional Office in Cairo. Tel: +20 1016255500 Email:  kpopp@iom.int