Introduction and Workshop Context

Excellencies, distinguished participants and panelists, ladies and gentlemen.

It is an honor to welcome you to Geneva for the convening of the International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) in a series of two workshops on Follow-up and review of migration in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

For the past 15 years, IOM has made available its regular and principal policy dialogue forum – the IDM – to strengthen global governance of migration.

This workshop will build upon the conclusions of the first workshop which took place from 29 February – 1 March – a workshop which gathered some 400 participants representing Member States, International Organizations, Civil Society, and other relevant actors at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to discuss the role of migration in the 2030 Agenda.

This year’s IDM emphasized the opportunity that the SDGs posed to create momentum for better migration policies in line with internationally agreed frameworks, including the existing normative framework as well as important recent frameworks, such as IOM’s Migration Governance Framework, the Migration Crisis Operation Framework, and guidelines stemming for the Migrants in Countries in Crisis Initiative.

This second IDM workshop will follow-up on the discussions in New York and provide representatives of the diplomatic community here in Geneva, as well as representatives from the capitals, an opportunity to discuss how best to implement the migration-related SDGs.

It is a moment of cautious optimism in the multilateral arena, with migration included in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Paris Climate Change Agreement, with the international community coming together to adopt the” New York Declaration”  for refugees and migrants, and IOM’s joining the UN family – cementing IOM’s role as the global leading international organization on migration.

This landmark decision to join the UN enables IOM to work even more closely with Member States and other UN agencies towards the goal of strengthening global migration governance and improving assistance to and protection of migrants.

The past year also highlighted, however, some of the greatest challenges migrants face as we  try to implement these ambitious commitments.

A record number of people have been uprooted, and forced to move -- refugees, internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking, and unaccompanied minors. We are also facing a series of unprecedented simultaneous, complex and protracted crises and humanitarian emergencies in an "arc of instability," that stretches from the Western bulge of Africa to the Himalayas. Finally, the public narrative on migration is too often a toxic one, rooted in disinformation and xenophobia. 

As I do not want to leave you on a negative note, I would like to highlight three main areas in which solutions can be found to realize migration aspects of the SDGs.  These three “C”s are at the core of IOM’s strategy assist Member States in this endeavor.

1. Continuity

First, we must acknowledge that we do not start from scratch. IOM has a long history of assisting Member States which –  even before the SDGs saw the importance of:

• Reducing remittance costs (SDG target 10.c)
• Mobilizing diaspora investments (SDG target 10.b)
• Ensuring that  the recruitment of migrants is fair and ethical (SDG target 8.8)
• Providing migrants access to basic health services (SDG target 3.8)
• Eradicating all forms of modern day slavery, including trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, and protecting migrants in vulnerable situations (SDG Targets 5.2/8.6/16.2)
• Etc.

During this workshop, we will hear (a) some of the best practices in these areas from various governments and other actors, but also (b) areas that must be strengthened if substantial progress is to be made on these targets.

2. Change

While it is important to continue and strengthen the work that is already being done, implementing the SDGs cannot be achieved by continuing business as usual. We need innovation; new tools and frameworks that will help Member States implement the SDGs.

During the first IDM, the “Migration Governance Index” was presented. A joint publication by IOM and The Economist magazine, the index is a truly innovative policy-benchmarking framework to assess the extent to which national migration policies facilitate orderly, safe and well-managed migration, as laid out in SDG Target 10.7.

A representative from Gallup World Poll  presented how surveys can be used to ensure that migration policies geared towards achieving safe and orderly migration actually achieve their aim, namely improving migrant’s well-being. This tool is an example of what David Nabarro calls “seeing the SDGs through the eyes of those left behind”.

Finally, at the first IDM in this series we also discussed the need for innovative data collection methods to guide policy makers’ decisions, including making better use of big data.

The SDGs give governmental and non-governmental actors the opportunity to think creatively, and I am looking forward to hearing some of the innovative measures you have to share.  

3. Cooperation

No country or international organization will be able to implement the SDGs on their own. The concepts of “continuity” and “change” also apply to the types of partnerships needed to achieve both the migration-related aspects of the SDGs. We need to use existing mechanisms to discuss progress, share experiences, and address some of the challenges in implementing migration related SDG targets, and other goals and targets with respect to migrants to ensure that migrant’s rights are protected and that no migrants is left behind.

At the global level, the IDM will continue to offer opportunities to share, expand upon, and better mobilize resources for reaching the migration-related SDG targets.  The Global Forum for Migration and Development can also play an important role in this regard. At the regional level, the sixteen Regional Consultative Processes that IOM supports will continue to be the platform for countries to share regional concerns and discuss regional solutions and cooperation to achieve the SDGs.

Partnerships touch all levels of the SDG  process: (a) data collection, (b) developing innovative financing models, and (c) sharing best practices. The SDGs provide a framework for building national policies and strategies. Action at all levels will be requested to ensure substantive and enduring improvements in conditions for migrants. We must realize the intersecting nature of working on migration-related SDGs. Migration outcomes affect development; migration in turn affects development. Partnerships are needed with civil society and the private sector. IOM is proud of its engagement with private sector companies – Facebook, Microsoft and Apple to name a few.

On 19 September, the UN General Assembly adopted the “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants” – a Declaration that calls for the establishment of a Global Compact on Migration. This is an unprecedented opportunity for governments and other partners to demonstrate the political will achieve the ambitious commitments of the SDGs. The process of crafting a Global Compact on Migration is now underway. IOM will continue to offer its IDM as a space to analyze current and emerging issues in migration governance and to exchange experiences, policy approaches and effective practices, including in the context of developing a Global Compact on Migration. I am sincerely grateful to all of you for being here to participate to share your rich experiences.