On September 19, 2016, the United Nations General Assembly will host a High Level Summit to Address Large Movements of Migrants & Refugees. This Summit is organized in response to the unprecedented numbers of migrants and refugees moving across borders and the associated humanitarian and human rights concerns that they face. This is the first time the UN has called together Heads of State or Government to discuss a coordinated approach to these large-scale migrations.
PROCESS
Out of this September 19th Summit, a negotiated outcome document will be published in the form of a declaration with two annexes—one on migration and one on refugees. The Annex on Migration sets out a 2-year road map for the elaboration and adoption of a “Global Compact for Safe, Regular, and Orderly Migration.” The Annex on Refugees sets out a Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and a similar 2-year road map towards a Global Compact on Refugees. The texts of all 3 documents were adopted on August 2, 2016.
You can download the documents here:
- Outcome Document for 19 September 2016 High Level Meeting to Address Large Movements of Refugees & Migrants
- Annex I: Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework
- Annex II: Towards a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration
TIMELINE
- July 18, 2016: The UN held an Interactive Multistakeholder Hearing to collect input from civil society on the draft of the Outcome Document, the draft of the Refugee Compact, and process. We were fortunate to have strong GCM representation in these discussions, both through official interventions and from the floor. You can view the full proceedings here: part one and part two. You can also read the Summary Document and view our Twitter feed (@GCMigration) for our live tweets of the hearings.
- July 18 to present: Negotiations among governments continue towards the finalization of the Outcome Document/Declaration. It is only until the end of July that civil society has the chance to influence what is included in this document, which will set the direction for the Global Compact on Migration and the CRRF.
- August 2: Member states adopt the draft declaration and both annexes.
- September 19: Heads of State/Government will convene in New York for the High Level Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Migrants & Refugees
IMPORTANT INPUTS INTO THE PROCESS
- Secretary General’s Report: “In Safety & Dignity”
- GCM’s position on the Sept. 19 Outcome Document
- Action Committee “New Deal for Refugees, Migrants, & Societies” document
- Remarks of GCM members Michele Levoy (PICUM), Catherine Tactaquin (NNIRR), Jille Belisario (TMP) at the Interactive Hearings (July 18)
- See all other Interactive Hearing inputs here
- Evalyn Tennant’s statement to the co-facilitators on the Outcome Document (representing GCM)
- Joint Civil Society Statement on the Outcome Document (29 July 2016)
- Statements from Governments on the negotiations of the outcome document
MEDIA COVERAGE
- NY Times- 1 August
U.N. Deadlocked Over Draft Agreement on Refugees and Migrants – NYTimes.com - NY Times- 2 August
U.N. Drafts Agreement on Refugees and Migrants - NY Times- 5 August
Stuck in Platitudes on Migration Crisis - The Guardian
UN members reject concrete refugee resettlement target - Chatham House – Dr. Jeff Crisp (formerly with UNHCR and GCIM process)
Minor miracle or historic failure? Assessing the UN’s refugee summit
STATEMENTS
- GCM Reflections on the September 19 Outcome Documents: Most of the work is yet to be done, and States need to act now, Global Coalition on Migration
- Don’t Lower the Bar on Children’s Rights: End the Detention of Migrant Children! Global Coalition on Migration
- Joint Statement on the Upcoming UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, initiated by Action Committee
- Statement of Center for Migration Studies and the Scalabrini International Migration Network on the Outcome Document for UN Summit on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, CIMS
- UN Member States Make Landmark Commitments to Refugees and Migrants, International Detention Coalition
- Leaders Miss the Mark on Child Detention, Global Campaign to End Child Detention
- UN Refugee Summit talks end in abject failure, Amnesty International
- Response of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants on the 9/19 Summit