International migration is an important multidimensional reality of major relevance for sustainable development to countries of origin, transit and destination in Asia and the Pacific.
In 2019, there were almost 65 million international migrants in the Asia-Pacific region. Almost 106 million migrants from ESCAP countries were living outside their countries of birth, nearly 40 per cent of all the migrants in the world. Most migration is intraregional, and, in 2019, almost 46 million migrants from Asia-Pacific countries moved to other countries within the region (43 per cent of all emigrants from Asia-Pacific countries), while 70 per cent of the foreign-born stock in Asia and the Pacific came from within the region. (ESCAP, 2020).[1]
When it is well-managed, migration can be a key driver of sustainable development: countries of destination can benefit from migrants’ skills and fill gaps in their labour forces, while communities in countries of origin can benefit from migrant remittances and the links they create between countries of origin and destination.
However, maximizing the potential benefits and minimizing the potential negative impact of migration remains a challenge. Much of the migration in the region is irregular. This renders migrants vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, harming migrants and all of society.
In this context, and pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 73/195 and 73/326, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Regional United Nations Network on Migration for Asia and the Pacific were organizing the Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The intergovernmental meeting will be held virtually from 10 to 12 March 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the option for Bangkok-based representatives to join in-person.
ACPR
Leading up to the Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, ESCAP and the United Nations Regional Network on Migration for Asia and the Pacific are briefing the Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives and other Representatives Designated by Members of the Commission (ACPR) on a regular basis.
The following presentations are available:
25 June 2020 (updated as of 14 August 2020)
Call for proposals of side events
ESCAP member States, relevant stakeholders, United Nations partners, international organizations and others are invited to submit side event concept notes by 17 February 2021 – Deadline has been extended to 25 February 2021.
Please click here for more information.
Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2020
In preparation for the Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, ESCAP and the Regional United Nations Network on Migration authored the Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2020. The report provides a baseline assessment of the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration in Asia and the Pacific.
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[1] ESCAP, 2020. Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2020: Assessing Implementation of the Global Compact for Migration (ST/ESCAP/2801).