On January 11th, the General Assembly met for a briefing regarding UN Secretary-General António Guterres' report entitled 'Making Migration Work for All' (20pps, multiple languages). His report will be used to exemplify the priorities to be addressed in the upcoming Global Compact on Migration.

The event commenced with a moment of silence for the former Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG) on International Migration, Peter Sutherland, who passed away earlier that week. Sutherland's commitment and support for migrants was later commended by many Member States, and as President of the General Assembly Miroslav Lajck stated "it is his passion that has led us here today to better protect the rights of migrants and refugees".

Secretary- General António Guterres personally presented the contents of his report. He emphasized that this year Member States have the opportunity to fashion the first ever global response to migration; it is an opportunity for leaders of the world to counter the myths and make migration work for all of our nations. The Global Compact must maximize the contributions that millions of migrants have already been making in our societies, and above all, ensure that the rights of all migrants are respected. This can be done if Member States stress a rule of law, create more legal pathways, and a solutions based Global Compact on Migration that protect migrants, especially those in vulnerable positions.

Three highlights that were stressed by the Secretary General were:
(1) a desperate need for action that focuses on implementation;
(2) engagement with all sectors, we all have a role to play and it is not just a state responsibility but the responsibility and commitment for all (municipalities, civil society, private sector, migrants themselves);
(3) demonstrate that the UN is fit for purpose.

With this, we may see change, migration out of hope rather than despair.

• Watch the Secretary- Generals’ briefing to the General Assembly here

Messages to: Angela Reed rsm - MIA Coordinator at the UN - Mercy Global Action

Image: UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Used under CC 2.0