3 November 2017: An informal consultation in Geneva on irregular migration marked the end of the first phase of preparations for the UN’s global compact on migration. Countries will take stock of inputs from the consultations at a meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in December 2017.

Participants called for harmonizing and standardizing safeguards to protect migrant workers against abuse.

The sixth and final intergovernmental consultation toward a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration took place from 12-13 October 2017, on the topic, ‘Irregular migration and regular pathways, including decent work, labor mobility, recognition of skills and qualifications and other relevant measures.’ Participants called for harmonizing and standardizing safeguards to protect migrant workers against abuse.

Co-facilitators Juan José Gómez Camacho (Mexico) and Jürg Lauber (Switzerland) disseminated a summary report of the discussions on 3 November. The summary highlights participants’ calls for decent work standards, social protection, workers’ rights, fair and ethical recruitment, and appropriate information and empowerment of migrants at all stages of migration. The report also notes that several global initiatives have emerged in recent years, which seek to translate legal obligations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions and human rights commitments into practice measures that can bring about effective change at the ground level.

The informal consultations ran from May to October 2017. In addition to irregular migration, they addressed: human rights; drivers of migration; international cooperation; migrants’ contributions; and human trafficking and smuggling. Following the stocktaking meeting in Mexico, taking place from 4-6 December, the UN Secretary-General will provide a report with recommendations by February 2018. The final phase of the preparatory process is intergovernmental negotiations on the global compact, scheduled for February to July 2018. In addition, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) President will organize four days of informal interactive multi-stakeholder hearings with representatives of NGOs, civil society organizations, academic institutions, diaspora representatives and migrant representatives.

The UNGA will hold an intergovernmental conference on international migration in late 2018 to adopt the global compact. [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on Preparatory Process] [Co-Facilitators’ Letter] [Co-Facilitators’ Summary] [UN Webpage on Migration Compact]