United Nations's video: Global Compact reflects commitment of the int l community to make migration work for all -UN Chief

“The Global Compact reflects the commitment of the international community to make migration work for all,” said UN chief. “Three years on, this task remains as urgent as ever,” he added. Briefing the General Assembly on his report on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, Secretary-General António Guterres said today (16 Feb) that the first priority is to promote inclusive societies and include migrants in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. “Encouragingly, we have seen a number of governments step up: Working to better protect the human rights of migrants, irrespective of status; Breaking down barriers to ensure non-discriminatory access to essential services, including vaccines; Expanding and diversifying migration pathways; And suspending forced returns,” Guterres said. “It is imperative that all such measures become the norm, not the exception,” he added. The second priority is the need to promote safe and regular migration, the Secretary-General said. “Unregulated migration continues to extract a terrible human cost. Large migration flows today are essentially managed by smugglers and human traffickers. And this is totally unacceptable,” he commented. In the last seven years, nearly 50,000 migrant deaths were recorded across the world, and the actual numbers are certainly higher, according to Guterres. “Preventing the loss of life – including through rescue at sea – is a humanitarian imperative and a moral and legal obligation,” he said. Talking about building capacity, the Secretary-General said that “the cornerstones of the Global Compact for Migration are collaboration and cooperation across all states and stakeholders at all levels. That is why we launched the United Nations Network for Migration. Today, the Network has established a Capacity Building Mechanism, including a Migration Network Hub and Multi-Partner Trust Fund – the first of its kind focused on migration”. “Together and only together, we can safeguard our common humanity and secure the rights and dignity of all,” he highlighted. Full remarks [as delivered]: https://www.un.org/sg/en/node/261905