Cairo - The United Nations Network on Migration in the Arab region organized a briefing today February 10th for stakeholders across the region in preparation for the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), to be held in May 2022.  

The briefing offered all participants an opportunity to discuss and share progress on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM). 

“We hope that the IMRF, through the whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach, will be an opportunity to develop plans to adopt alternative migration systems according to a vision that is in line with international standards and that responds to the demands of migrant workers, trade unions, and civil society," said Ms. Sara El-Khatib, Field Migration Specialist for the MENA Region,  
Solidarity Center. 

Following the whole-of-society approach enshrined in the GCM, the event brought together stakeholders in the region who are playing a crucial role in supporting the achievement of the 23 objectives of the GCM and providing direct assistance to migrants.  

Stakeholders also discussed with the UN Network on Migration during the briefing potential support it can provide to ensure optimal engagement and input to the IMRF.    

The IMRF, which will be held in New York between 17-20 May 2022, will be preceded by a multi-stakeholder hearing on the 16th of May 2022. The Forum will be held every four years and will serve as the primary global intergovernmental platform for the Member States and other relevant stakeholders to discuss and share progress on the implementation of the GCM. 

"On behalf of thousands of young migrants in the region,  I call for a renewed focus on education, upskilling, and access to services, and the need for further development of multi-lateral collaboration to address these priority areas,” said Ms. Sarah Badr, MENA Focal Point at The Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY). 

“The IMRF is a key opportunity to embrace a whole-of-society approach in the MENA region and highlight both challenges and opportunities for advancing safe, orderly, and dignified migration," she added. 

In 2018, the GCM was adopted as a new global approach to migration governance that recognizes its multi-dimensional reality and provides a holistic approach to improve cooperation on international migration. The GCM promotes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach that values the role and inputs of stakeholders to achieve its 23 objectives and guiding principles.  

To ensure effective implementation of the GCM, regional reviews were held to contribute to a greater understanding of regional and sub-regional dimensions of migration. The outcomes of the regional GCM reviews, including the one conducted in the Arab region in February 2021, will inform the IMRF.  

Contributions to the IMRF: How to Submit Your Inputs 

All relevant stakeholders, including migrants, civil society, migrant and diaspora organizations, faith-based organizations, local authorities and communities, the private sector, trade unions, parliamentarians, national human rights institutions, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, academia, the media and other relevant stakeholders, are invited to submit their inputs to the IMRF to the secretariat of the Network (unmignet@iom.int). Inputs received will be posted on Network’s website, prior to the IMRF (https://migrationnetwork.un.org/).  

The UN Network on Migration was established by the UN Secretary-General and consists of 39 UN entities. It aims to ensure effective, timely and a coordinated system-wide support to Member States on GCM implementation, follow-up and review.  

For more information, please contact Mr. Tamim Elyan at: telyan@iom.int.  

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