23 November 2015
UNGA Addresses Root Causes, Impact of Refugees and Migration
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The UN General Assembly (UNGA) held a formal meeting on 'Global awareness of the tragedies of irregular migrants in the Mediterranean basin, with specific emphasis on Syrian asylum seekers.' UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres stressed the importance of development as a tool against instability, and the potential of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to address the root causes of recent migration flows.

unga7020 November 2015: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) held a formal meeting on ‘Global awareness of the tragedies of irregular migrants in the Mediterranean basin, with specific emphasis on Syrian asylum seekers.’ UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres stressed the importance of development as a tool against instability, and the potential of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to address the root causes of recent migration flows.

Opening the meeting on 20 November 2015, in New York, US, Ban said it is not sustainable for a small number of first asylum countries to bear the brunt of the refugee flow from the Syrian conflict. Ban called for urgently addressing the root causes of the conflict in Syria, which he said necessitates greater political will and financial commitments. Ban also said implementation of the 2030 Agenda should not be regarded only as a “moral imperative” but also as a safeguard against instability and an effective way to tackle broader security and humanitarian concerns. Ban emphasized the need for international cooperation, namely among the African Union (AU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the EU, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Ban noted related upcoming events including the Syria Donors Conference on 4 February 2016, in London, UK, which he will co-host with the governments of Germany, Kuwait, Norway and UK, and a resettlement conference convened by the UNHCR in March 2016, to gather pledges to resettle people displaced by the Syrian conflict. Many participants also highlighted the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, in May 2016, as an opportunity to reshape the global humanitarian agenda. Finally, Ban proposed a High-Level Summit in September 2016 in New York, one day before the General Debate, on managing large-scale movements of migrants and refugees.

Addressing the UNGA, Guterres said the proportion of refugees in extreme poverty has increased substantially since the beginning of Syria’s conflict, and the shortfall in funding has exacerbated this issue, leaving the UN without adequate resources to address it. He added that middle income countries (MICs) have borne the brunt of the crisis but are forgotten by international development assistance. He highlighted the need for a radical change in development cooperation that provides adequate funding for capacity building, and to foster a closer relationship between development and humanitarian stakeholders.

Guterres also stressed that refugee flows are a result – not cause – of terrorism and war. This statement was echoed by many participants.

Representatives of the EU, Republic of Korea and Turkey, among other participants, referred to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goals 10 and 16, calling for resolute implementation of these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets. Turkey insisted on recognizing the positive impact of migration on development, and that the 2030 Agenda and its Goals and targets can help reap the benefits of recent migration flows. Most other participants, while acknowledging the development dimension of the crisis, focused on security ramifications of the Syrian conflict.

The UNGA meeting was preceded by an informal meeting of the Assembly, on 19 November, on advancing a comprehensive response to the global humanitarian and refugee crisis. [IISD RS Sources] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [UNHCR Statement] [UNGA President Statement] [Syria Donors Conference 2016 Joint Announcement] [World Humanitarian Summit Website] [IISD RS Story on UNGA Informal Meeting, 19 November] [UN Press Release]

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