21 July 2016: In a letter circulated on 21 July 2016, Mogens Lykketoft, President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), invited the Chairs of the Regional Groups of UN Member States to nominate two co-chairs for each of the six round tables of the forthcoming UNGA High-level Meeting (HLM) on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants, which is scheduled to take place on 19 September 2016, in New York, US. The deadline for the nominations is 8 August 2016.

As mandated by UNGA resolution A/RES/70/290, which outlines the HLM’s modalities, the event will include a plenary meeting and six interactive multi-stakeholder round tables, with two co-chairs presiding over each round table.

The themes of the six round tables are: addressing the root causes of large movements of refugees; addressing drivers of migration, particularly large movements, and highlighting the positive contributions of migrants; international action and cooperation on refugees and migrants and issues related to displacement: the way ahead; global compact for responsibility-sharing for refugees; respect for international law; global compact for safe, regular and orderly migration: towards realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieving full respect for the human rights of migrants; and addressing vulnerabilities of refugees and migrants on their journeys from their countries of origin to their countries of arrival.

Intergovernmental negotiations and civil society consultations on the HLM’s outcome are currently underway. [UNGA President’s Letter] [HLM Webpage] [IISD RS Coverage of HLM Preparations]