IOM and partners call on world leaders to protect the rights of refugees and migrants

In a message dated 19th September, 2016 UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, IOM and partner organizations called on world leaders to come together and protect the rights of refugees and migrants. 

The UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants is a historic opportunity for the world to agree on a better response to large movements of refugees and migrants. It is the first time that world leaders are coming together at the United Nations to address issues affecting both refugees and migrants. 

The timing of this Summit is critical as the world is witnessing an unprecedented level of human mobility. Around the world, more and more refugees and migrants are leaving their homes and travelling along dangerous routes. Yet many are failing to find a safe place to call home.

The inter-agency message for the Summit stated that challenge of addressing large movements of refugees and migrants is not insurmountable, if the international community shares responsibility. “We must substantially increase our support to those countries that are most affected. We must address the factors that compel people to move. We must also facilitate movements that are safe, orderly and regular.” 

Protecting the rights of refugees’ and migrants’ safety and dignity was the general message highlighted for this day.

At the UN Summit, the world has come together around one plan. Member States have reached agreement by consensus on a powerful outcome document. The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants expresses the political will of world leaders to save lives, protect rights and share responsibility on a global scale.

“Adopting the New York Declaration is not enough. World leaders and the international community should implement its commitments without delay. Together, we must ensure that no refugee or migrant is left behind,” IOM highlighted. 

IOM continued to stress that migration is not a problem to be solved but a mutually beneficial process to be managed responsively and humanely. Further, migration can contribute to sustainable development when it is managed well at the local, national, regional and global levels for the individuals and the benefit of societies. 

The IOM Migration Governance Framework sets out the essential elements to support planned and well-managed migration policies at national, regional and international levels, offering a comprehensive and balanced approach to migration governance, grounded in the existing normative framework. Through this framework, IOM assists States and local governments, as well as regional entities and cooperation mechanisms, to assess their existing migration policies, and adapt or develop needed policies to facilitate safe, regular and orderly migration, including for labour migration at all skills levels, and for education and family unification, and to reduce the incidence and impact of irregular migration.

As IOM officially joins the UN System on 19th September 2016, the decision of both IOM and UN Member States reflects the global importance of migration and the need to better link human mobility with related policy agendas, including in the humanitarian, development, human rights, climate change and peace and security domains. IOM’s collaboration with the UN is already close, and it will become even more so with IOM as part of the UN system and family. This will help ensure that the issues surrounding the world’s 244 million migrants are well addressed.