Video Message
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
It is an honour to address the 15th Summit of the Global Forum on Migration and Development.
I extend my sincere congratulations to the Government of Colombia and to Ambassador Gustavo Gallón for your outstanding leadership.
Today, over 304 million people live outside their country of birth. Migrants are engines of inclusive growth and sustainable development, easing labour shortages in countries of destination and sparking innovation.
Migrants also play a crucial role in their countries of origin by transferring skills, social capital, and financial resources, including personal remittances.
Recognizing and leveraging these contributions is critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
However, migration presents a dual reality. If unmanaged, it can lead to “brain drain” in countries of origin. That is why ethical recruitment is critical.
Irregular migration can also put enormous strain on host communities. International migrants who are smuggled across borders can fall victim to human traffickers, with women and children being especially vulnerable.
This underscores the urgent need to enhance the availability and flexibility of regular migration pathways.
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
A new driver accelerating migration is climate change. Droughts, floods and rising sea levels are already displacing millions of people. While the bulk of such movements take place within national borders, we must prepare for a surge in international climate migration, particularly from highly vulnerable countries like the small island developing States (SIDS).
Tackling the climate crisis and achieving the 2030 Agenda is a core migration management strategy. This will enhance the positive impacts of migration as an adaptive strategy while minimizing its adverse effects.
To govern migration effectively, we need facts and evidence. Too often, a vacuum of reliable data is filled with misinformation, leading to flawed policies and toxic narratives that fuel xenophobia and discrimination.
At my department, UN DESA, we are committed to closing this evidence gap on international migration and deepening the knowledge and understanding of both trends and policies.
As we move forward, we must continue to invest in better data, promote evidence-based policymaking and include migrants in decisions that affect their lives.
Most importantly, we must recognize the human face of migration, Migrants are not threats; they are individuals who enrich our societies.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Compact on Migration provide our roadmap to ensure that migration is safe, orderly and regular. But no country can achieve this alone.
Migration is a shared global reality. It is a complex global phenomenon requiring international cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination, and support from the international community and other stakeholders, including members of civil society.
As we celebrate this 15th GFMD, let us recommit to a multilateral approach that governs migration effectively, protecting the dignity and human rights of every migrant, and truly leaves no one behind.
Thank you.