HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MIROSLAV LAJČÁK

United Nations Headquarters, New York

18 December 2017

Today is International Migrants Day.
The President marked the day by opening an interactive hearing on the “whole-of-society approach” to migration.
He said the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, must be adaptable to every country of the world. And, for this to happen, we have to understand different country contexts.
He noted that migration doesn’t just affect different countries in different ways. Even within a single country, it can have diverse impacts and effects.
He added, “Governments decide on the laws and policies related to migration… And they will continue to do it after we have adopted the Global Compact… But, migration affects whole societies. Which means whole societies must be involved in responding to it.“
In that regard, he said we must listen to views from health workers, border police, NGOs, teachers, community leaders, social welfare officials, and migrants themselves.
The President will also address an International Migrants Day event at UNICEF House this evening. There he is expected to call for an embrace of diversity and inclusion – and to note that migrants enrich our cultures.

Tomorrow at 3:30 p.m., the President will hold his first in a series of monthly Twitter chats. The topic this month is migration.
The chat will be live for 30 minutes and questions can be sent in advance. Tweet #AskUNPGA to join the conversation.