17th February, 2022
By Cecilia Ologunagba
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said international cooperation is needed for safe migration, as it is “a defining feature of humanity and our world”.
He stated this at the General Assembly on Wednesday while launching his second report on the “Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration”.
According to him, migration is a positive phenomenon” that enriches societies and economies but if poorly managed, it generates huge challenges from the tragic loss of life to rights abuses and social tensions.
“This is why effectively managing migration and protecting their rights, requires “strengthened international cooperation”.
“The Global Compact reflects the commitment of the international community to make migration work for all – to make it a source of prosperity and solidarity, not a byword for inhumanity.’’
Guterres commended all who have helped migrants integrate into host countries, facilitated regular pathways, and advanced collaboration between countries of origin, transit, and destination.
However, he underscored that “much more can and should be done”.
As women and children face higher risks of trafficking along with gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation, others are forcibly returned, “with insufficient regard to health risks, due process or procedural safeguards,” he said.
“It is imperative that all governments better protect migrants’ human rights, break down barriers to access to essential services, expand migration pathways and suspend forced returns, he added.
Although over 80 per cent of the world’s migrants move between countries in a safe and orderly fashion, unregulated migration continues to extract a terrible human cost.
“Large migration flows today are essentially managed by smugglers and human traffickers. This is unacceptable”, Guterres said, stressing the need for safe and regular migration.
“We must better protect migrants in vulnerable situations, including those affected by disasters and the climate crisis.
“Also, we must expand and diversify rights-based pathways for regular migration to address labour market shortages, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
He said more needed to be done “to ensure returns and readmissions are safe, dignified and in full accordance with obligations under international law.”
“All governments must also work together to ensure their safe and sustainable reintegration into home communities,’’ he added.
In the last seven years, nearly 50,000 migrant deaths have been recorded across the world, although the actual numbers are higher.
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