GCM Development Process

As decided by the New York Declaration, the process leading up to the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) was split into three phases: Consultation, Stocktaking and Negotiations.

Phase I: April—November 2017: Consultations

Several global, regional and national thematic consultations and multi-stakeholder hearings (informal interactive consultation hearings for non-governmental actors, including the private sector) were held during this phase, with input from and participation of relevant stakeholders at global, regional, national and local levels.

1. May 8 – 9 (Geneva): Thematic session 1 – human rights, social inclusion, cohesion, discrimination, including racism, xenophobia and intolerance.
    
2. May 22 – 23 (New York): Thematic session 2 – addressing drivers of migration, incl. climate change, natural disasters & human-made crises, through protection and assistance, sustainable development, poverty eradication, conflict prevention and resolution.
    
3. June 19 – 20 (Geneva): Thematic session 3 – international cooperation and governance of migration in all its dimensions, including at borders, transit, entry, return, readmission, integration and reintegration.
    
4. July 24 – 25 (New York): Thematic session 4 – contributions of migrants and diasporas to development, including remittances and portability of earned benefits.
    
5. September 4 – 5 (Vienna): Thematic session 5 – smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and slavery, including identification, protection and assistance.
    
6. October 12 – 13 (Geneva): Thematic session 6 – irregular migration and regular pathways, including decent work, labor mobility, recognition of skill and qualifications. 

For more information, including all documentation related to the thematic sessions, please visit https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/consultation-phase”

Phase II: December 2017—January 2018: Stocktaking

The stocktaking phase began with a meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on 4 – 6 December 2017. The aim of the meeting was to pull together and analyze all relevant input received during the consultations phase. The outcomes of the stocktaking fed into a first draft (“zero draft”) of a global compact for migration prepared by the co-facilitators of the process (Switzerland and Mexico), which provides the basis for the third phase: intergovernmental negotiations. 

For more information, including all documentation related to the Stocktaking Phase, please visit https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/stocktaking-phase.

Phase III: February 2018—July 2018: Intergovernmental negotiations

The intergovernmental negotiations on the Global Compact for Migration were held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from February to July 2018 on the following dates:

• 20 February 2018 and 22-23 February 2018
• 12-15 March 2018
• 3-6 April 2018
• 14-18 May 2018
• 4-8 June 2018
• 9-13 July 2018 

For more information, including all documentation related to the Negotiations Phase, please visit https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/intergovernmental-negotiations

Key Negotiations Documents

• Final Draft of the Global Compact for Migration
• Global Compact on Migration Rev1
• Global Compact on Migration Zero Draft Plus
• Global Compact on Migration Zero Draft

IOM Key Documents

• IOM Thematic Papers
• IOM Activities in Support of the Global Compact for Migration
• Actionable Commitments
• Input to the UN Secretary General’s Report on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
• Detailed Proposed Approach for Follow-up and Review
• Improving Data for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration