The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has partnered with the Nigerian Government on the national voluntary review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
The national consultative meeting which is also in collaboration with other sister agencies is intended to update all stakeholders on the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF)’s process and frameworks and develop a position paper as part of the IMRF preparations while building momentum ahead of the meeting in New York on 17th to 20th, May 2022.
The IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission. Frantz Celestin noted that; “Our presence here is a clear indication of the commitment of the Nigerian Government towards the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration
“As champion and priority country, Nigeria is held at even higher standards for its commitment in implementing the GCM given the country’s dynamic and complex development landscape, ” he added.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq said; “Nigeria not only participated actively in the process and adoption of this document but also has demonstrated its commitment to the implementation by being the first country to start off the implementation after its adoption and this has earned Nigeria a position among the GCM champion countries.”
The Federal Commissioner for National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Imaan Suleiman- Ibrahim said; “I am pleased that the adoption and institutionalization of the GCM and its 23 goals resulted in the creation of a National Action Plan for GCM implementation.”
GCM is a non-binding document that respects states’ sovereign right to determine who enters and stays in their territory and demonstrates a commitment to international cooperation on migration.
It presents an opportunity to improve the governance of migration, address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.
The International Organization for Migration’s partners includes the Nigerian Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in close collaboration with the United Nations (UN) Network on Migration and other intergovernmental organizations (INGOs) working in the field of migration.
The ongoing Migration Review Forum is aimed at assessing the progress made at local, national, regional, and global levels to implement the Compact in the framework of the UN through a state-led approach with the participation of 95 attendees from government ministries, agencies, civil society organizations, INGOs and UN agencies in Nigeria.
The Global Compact for Migration is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, under the auspices of the UN, covering all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner.
This was adopted based on the need for collective commitment to improving cooperation on international migration as recommended by the 2016 New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants at an Intergovernmental Conference held in Marrakesh, Morocco.
PIAK