Participants told this at the “Sensitization Workshop on Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration”. The Government of Bangladesh in coordination with the Bangladesh United Nations Network on Migration organized the workshop at Hotel Intercontinental on 26 November 2019.

For the first time on 19 September 2016, heads of State and Government came together to discuss, at the global level within the UN General Assembly, issues related to migration and refugees. In adopting the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, the 193 UN Member States recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to human mobility and enhanced cooperation at the global level. 

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) was then grounded in 2018 in values of state sovereignty, responsibility-sharing, non-discrimination, human rights, and recognizes that a cooperative approach is needed to optimize the overall benefits of migration while addressing its risks and challenges for individuals and communities in countries of origin, transit, and destination. While much of the discussions around GCM have been led by Ministries, it is important to sensitize a wider range of government agencies and stakeholders to engage them in the implementation and follow-up of GCM objectives. 

Given this backdrop, the workshop has provided a platform to discuss updates on GCM, increase socialization and pave way for actions for implementation. The workshop gathered representatives from relevant Ministries, and related agencies, members of Bangladesh United Nations Network on Migration, development partners, NGOs/CSOs, academia and media.

Giorgi Gigauri, Chief of Mission, IOM Bangladesh, and Coordinator of the Bangladesh UN Migration Network, said, “We need to fulfill the objectives and commitments outlined in the GCM, in line with guiding principles, by taking effective steps at all levels to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration at all stages. We also need cooperation and partnership with migrants, civil society, migrant, local authorities, private sector, and other related institutions to implement the GCM.” 

The GCM, with 23 objectives, is the first-ever inter-governmentally negotiated agreement on a common approach to international migration in all its dimensions. Though non-legally binding, the Compact is the outcome of a long negotiation process and provides a strong platform for cooperation on migration, drawing on best practice and international law. 

Mia Mia Seppo, UN Resident Coordinator Bangladesh, said, “GCM seeks to enhance the international migration. We need a whole government and whole of society approach to implement the GCM. Moreover, we must ensure human trafficking is addressed and migrants’ rights are ensured through the implementation of this global compact.”

Bangladesh in the past has spearheaded national, regional and global migration discourses to ensure that migration features in major development frameworks and discussions. Addressing the issue at the event, Md. Shahidul Haque, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “Bangladesh has always been instrumental in the discussion of migration at the global levels. However, we are still struggling with migration in terms of coordination, governance, and GCM implementation. And, currently there is a huge tension at the global level about migration and it continues to remain a priority in global politics. For GCM implementation, we need strong coordination with different stakeholders at all levels for safe, orderly and regular migration.”

To sensitize different participants in the global and national efforts of the adoption, implementation, follow up and review process of the GCM including coordination mechanisms, a working session on priorities for GCM implementation was conducted. Moreover, the Technical Working Groups on Counter-Trafficking and Labour Migration under the auspices of the Bangladesh United Nations Network on Migration was launched in the event.