Month: January 2019

Global Compact for Migration

In July 2018 the United Nations along with many governments in the world came to a negotiated agreement entitled “Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.”

Heads of State and Government and other representatives held a meeting in Morocco on December 10 and 11 to reaffirm the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. They are determined to make an important contribution to enhance cooperation on international migration in all its dimensions, and have adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

In the preamble it is clearly stated that refugees and migrants are entitled to the same universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, which must be respected, protected and fulfilled at all times. The Global Compact presents a non-legally binding, cooperative framework that builds on the commitments agreed upon by Member States in the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.

In the section on Guiding Principles, the document states that it strives to create conducive conditions that enable all migrants to enrich our societies through their human, economic and social capacities, and thus facilitate their contributions to sustainable development at every level of society.

With respect to human rights, it states that the compact is based on international human rights law and upholds the principles of non-regression and non-discrimination.

There are 23 objectives presented for safe, orderly and regular migration. Each objective contains a series of commitments as to how this objective might be implemented. Here are some of the objectives:
  1. Minimize the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their country of origin
  2. Prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international
    migration
  3. Provide access to basic services for migrants
  4. Eliminate all forms of discrimination and promote evidence-based public discourse to shape perceptions of migration
  5. Promote faster, safer and cheaper transfer of remittances and foster financial inclusion of migrants

 

Please read the entire compact at this link: Global Compact for Migration
There is also a section entitled “Implementation”. There was a decision to establish a capacity-building mechanism in the United Nations. This included a connection hub that facilitates integrated solutions, a start-up fund for initial financing, and a global knowledge platform.
In terms of follow-up and review, there were several items. These included:
  1. Review progress on a state-level process
  2. Establish and International Migration Review Forum which will begin in 2022
  3. United Nations Regional Economic Commissions or Regional Consultative Processes, to review the implementation of the Global Compact within the respective regions, beginning in 2020
  4. All Member States are encouraged to develop, as soon as practicable, ambitious national responses for the implementation of the Global Compact, and to conduct regular and inclusive reviews

Your comments are welcome. crsponsorscouncil@gmail.com

Hope for Syria?

Jesuit Refugee Service’s regional director for the Middle East, Fr. Nawras Sammour is a Syrian and has seen his country change many times over many years. He spoke to Steve Paiken of TVO in Ontario on Jan. 4, 2019. A few years ago he had little hope of the end to the civil war in Syria. Today things are a little different. The cities are more calm, roads are more secure but there are several Syria’s side by side. There are American troops,  Turkish troops and others. The future is still uncertain. Syrians are happy to have Canada welcoming them. The issue of language difficulties still is present.

The long range plan is a secure peaceful Syria. The Catholic Church plays a large role in providing education and socio-economic relief.

Please watch the entire video here: Fr. Nawras Sammour