Banjul, 25 July  – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), as co-chairs of the Regional UN Network on Migration for West and Central Africa, organized a two-day dialogue for Inter-State Consultation Mechanisms on Migration (ISCMs) in the Africa and the Americas, in coordination with the Government of the Gambia, a Champion country of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM).

The inter-regional dialogue brought together nine Inter-State Consultation Mechanisms on Migration (ISCMs) to provide concrete contributions to the implementation of the GCM ahead of the second round of GCM Regional Reviews for Africa and for the Americas, scheduled to take place in October 2024 and March 2025 respectively.

Participants discussed emerging migration trends, common challenges and priorities around migration governance and exchanged good practices from both regions. The focus of their discussions centered on enhancing regular pathways for regular migration and combating irregular flows to ensure the protection of migrants on the move.

They highlighted the need for enhanced interstate cooperation and revitalization of dialogue mechanisms, as no state can manage migration alone. Furthermore, they pointed to the importance of whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches to ensure coordinated efforts and a mutual understanding across state and non-state actors. Participants also discussed the need for quality data and institutional capacity building and emphasized the criticality of resource mobilization.

Yvonne Masarakufa, Senior Human Rights Advisor to the UN in The Gambia and representing OHCHR, stated during the opening ceremony that: “It is important to reflect on the human rights of migrants not only within the context of the GCM but in line with other relevant frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and more importantly to also return to the fundamental underpinnings in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on which the GCM is premised.”

"The Gambia, as a CM Champion country, is like many countries, a nation deeply affected by migration. Therefore, it is crucial for us, as a nation, to have a whole-of-society approach to managing migration effectively. This requires collaboration and cooperation among key stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, international partners, and the private sector," stated Ambassador Lang Yabou, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad.

Amy Muedin, Deputy head of the UN Network on Migration Secretariat, reiterated the pivotal nature of convening spaces for state actors and said, “What we really need are those government representatives sitting at the table, talking about their challenges, their successes, their best practices and sharing ideas for improving collaboration amongst them and improving migration for all and for migrants in particular.”

*Participants included senior technical representatives from ISCMs and Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs), such as the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA), Migration Dialogue for COMESA Member States (MIDCOM), Regional Ministerial Forum on Migration for East and Horn of Africa (RMFM), Pan African Forum on Migration (PAFOM), Regional Conference on Migration (RCM), South American Conference on Migration (SACM), Ibero-American Network of Migration Authorities (RIAM), and Central American Commission of Migration Directors (OCAM) underscoring the key role of RCPs in regional migration governance dialogues. The League of Arab States also participated as the technical secretariat of the Arab Regional Consultative Process on Migration and Refugee Affairs.

The GCM, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, provides a comprehensive framework for governing migration in a safe, orderly and regular manner. It calls for shared responsibilities and collective action among Member States to address the complexities of migration. 

The event was made possible through the financial support of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration through the Africa Regional Migration Program, and the Kingdom of Netherlands through the PROMIS program. 

The final report will be issued in the coming days.  

For more information about the event, please contact:

IOM in West and Central Africa: Joëlle Furrer, jfurrer@iom.int

For more information about the GCM and the review process, please contact:

UN Network on Migration secretariat: Florence Kim fkim@iom.int