Intergovernmental Meeting
ESCAP convened the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration with the Regional United Nations Network on Migration for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok from 4 to 6 February 2025. The intergovernmental meeting brought together ESCAP members and associated members, relevant stakeholders, United Nations entities, and independent experts from across the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information, please see Concept note.
YouTube webcasting is available below:
Date 1: Tuesday, February 4, 2025
9:00 - 12:00
WebTV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1w/k1wfrz3vh3
YouTube "Floor language": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Op_27d3kw
14:00 - 17:00
WebTV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1i/k1ipyzpcp8
YouTube "Floor language": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iurxRl08Pgw
Date 2: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
9:00 - 12:00
WebTV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15niec4gd
YouTube "Floor language": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV1hjTlNgiw
14:00 - 17:00
WebTV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1g/k1g4jxomn0
YouTube "Floor language": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmjL6anz-cc
Date 3: Thursday, February 6, 2025
14:00 - 17:00
WebTV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k18/k18uj5r5os
YouTube "Floor language": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-OG5ZRYEYk
Background
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 2020, there were almost 67 million international migrants in the Asia-Pacific region. Almost 109 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 2020, about 47 million migrants from Asia-Pacific countries moved to other countries within the region; thus, 71 per cent of the foreign-born stock in Asia and the Pacific came from within the region.
When it is well-managed, migration can be a key driver of sustainable development: countries of destination can benefit from migrants’ skills, and migrants offen fill gaps in 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. Often, migration in the region is not safe, orderly and regular. This renders migrants vulnerable to rights violation, abuse and exploitation, harming migrants and all of society.
Mandate
In this context, and pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 73/195, 73/326 and 76/266, ESCAP and the Regional United Nations Network on Migration for Asia and the Pacific are organizing the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
Objectives
The second Asia-Pacific GCM Regional Review provided an opportunity for ESCAP members and associate members, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to:
- Take stock of progress made with regard to the 360-degree implementation of the 23 objectives of the GCM in the Asia-Pacific region since the first Asia-Pacific GCM Regional Review;
- Identify key challenges, opportunities, gaps and emerging issues, as well as promising practices and lessons learned related to the implementation of the GCM in Asia and the Pacific;
- Discuss regional priorities and potential areas for regional cooperation on international migration in line with the vision and guiding principles of the GCM;
- Compile resource requirements, capacity-building needs, policy advice, data gathering needs, technology and partnerships that are required for the full implementation of the GCM at the national and regional levels; and
- Facilitate the formulation of key findings and recommendations to inform the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF).
The second Asia-Pacific GCM Regional Review built on the first Asia-Pacific GCM Regional Review and its Chair’s summary, as well as the International Migration Review Forum and its Progress Declaration. For more information on the First Asia-Pacific GCM Regional Review, please see here.
The review adopted an inclusive, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach and provided an opportunity for ESCAP members and associate members and relevant stakeholders to review all aspects of the GCM, according to its vision and its cross-cutting and interdependent guiding principles.
Since the GCM is firmly rooted in the 2030 Agenda, the GCM Regional Review discussed how the implementation of the GCM objectives contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ACPR
Leading up to the Second 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:
Background information
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1)
New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (A/RES/71/1)
Report of the Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (E/ESCAP/GCM/PREP/6)
Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (A/RES/73/195)
Format and organizational aspects of the international migration review forums (A/RES/73/326)
Progress Declaration of the International Migration Review Forum (A/RES/76/266)
Report of the Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (ESCAP/GCM/2021/3)
Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2020 (ST/ESCAP/2801)
Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2024
Guiding questions for ESCAP member States to prepare for the Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
Responses for guiding questions
| Azerbaijan | India | Japan | Kazakhstan | Republic of Korea |
| Sri Lanka | Tajikistan | Uzbekistan | Viet Nam | RCP-Colombo Process |
For further information, please contact: Social Development Division, ESCAP ([email protected]).