GENEVA - The United Nations Network on Migration commemorates this first anniversary of the adoption in Marrakech, Morocco, of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (Global Compact) and celebrates the world’s 272 million migrants and their important role and the contributions to countries of origin and destination.

In the run-up to International Migrants Day on 18 December, the United Nations Network on Migration is gathering today in Geneva to review its progress in the year since Marrakech and seek ways to improve migration for the benefit of all. The Network reaffirms its commitment to support partners in upholding the guiding principles of the Global Compact, in promoting international cooperation for the development and implementation of principled and effective national migration policies from a 360-degree approach, and to highlight that national sovereignty and the protection of human rights are mutually reinforcing.

The Global Compact is a significant step by Member States towards making migration work for all.  Based on international law and aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Global Compact highlights the need for international cooperation to address migration’s challenges and reap its benefits, while respecting, protecting and fulfilling the human rights of all migrants, regardless of their migration status, and promoting the security and prosperity of all our communities.   

The Global Compact unambiguously recognizes migrants as enriching our societies, ultimately contributing to sustainable development for all. Women comprise almost half of all international migrants, and there are 164 million migrant workers around the world.  It also calls for the dispelling of misleading narratives that generate negative perceptions of migrants and the elimination of all forms of discrimination, including racism, xenophobia and intolerance, against migrants and their families.

In 2020, the Network will continue to work with Member States and all relevant stakeholders in implementing the Global Compact, including through upholding their principled commitments; with migrants to better ensure their safety and dignity; and with communities around the world to ensure the benefits of migration are enjoyed by all. 
 
For more information, please contact:
 
Leonard Doyle
Senior Spokesperson, International Organization for Migration
Tel: +41-792857123,
Email: ldoyle@iom.int

Rupert Colville
Spokesperson / Head of Media
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
E-mail: rcolville@ohchr.org
Tel: +41 22 917 9767

Adam Cathro
Head, Media and Advocacy (ai)
United Nations Development Programme
adam.cathro@undp.org
Tel: +1-212-906-5326
 
Christopher Tidey
UNICEF New York
+1 917 340 3017
ctidey@unicef.org

Sonya Yee 
Speechwriter and Spokesperson, UNODC
Phone: (+43 1) 26060-4990
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-4990
Email: sonya.yee@un.org