Closing of Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the “Global Compact for a Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration”

– As delivered –

STATEMENT BY H.E. MARIA FERNANDA ESPINOSA, PRESIDENT OF THE 73RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the “Global Compact for a Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration”

Closing – December 11

Excellencies,

It is an honor for me to participate in the closing of the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the “Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.” We have come here after two intense years of negotiations in the General Assembly of the United Nations.

I would like to reiterate my profound thanks to the Kingdom of Morocco for their generosity and for the impeccable organization of this Conference.

I also want to thank the resolute support that I received from the Member States in our path to Marrakesh. We came here with a clear objective and we achieved it.

I acknowledge each of the States present and, of course, all those who for various reasons could not attend the Conference but participated actively in the process and still support this Compact.

Undeniably, this Intergovernmental Conference has improved the global dialogue on migrations and leaves us an even more strong Compact. All the eyes of the world have been on Marrakesh and its interventions.

Excellencies,

The message we have sent to the international community from this Conference is unmistakable: multilateralism works and is the only possible answer for this and every other global challenge.

Excellencies,

Now the question is: what comes after Marrakesh? Well I must say that we still have a long and promising road ahead of us. Upon my return to New York, we will bring the Compact to life. That will be the best tribute that we can pay to the 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

On December 19 I will summon the plenary of the General Assembly to adopt the resolution that will formally endorse this Compact.

Likewise, pursuant to the mandate that was conferred to me by the States, I will designate co-facilitators to carry out intergovernmental consultations with the purpose of defining the modalities of the “International Migration Review Fora”, which will examine the progress of the implementation of the Compact, every four years, starting on 2022.

To ensure and strengthen the effectiveness and consistency of the follow-up of the implementation of the Compact, the regional reviews to inform the Fora will be vitally important.

I reiterate my commitment to ensure an open, transparent and inclusive negotiation process so we can have a strong and adequate mechanism to review the 23 objectives that have been agreed upon in this Compact.

Therefore, the implementation phase requires unified efforts, cooperation and exchange at all levels: local, regional and international.

A successful implementation will be the result of an integral approach that reflects all the dimensions of the migratory phenomenon and that summons a broad participation of all parties involved.

Excellencies,

I have a request: every country must disseminate the contents of the Compact; it must be shared with all members of society. The social appropriation of the Compact will be the best guarantee of its implementation and will avoid erroneous and even malicious interpretations.

Excellencies,

The Global Compact allows us to share, exchange and reinforce migratory practices and policies and gives us the opportunity to include innovative and effective approaches in the public policies of the States that decide to do so. It facilitates alliances with relevant stakeholders: the United Nations system, organizations for migrants, civil society and the private sector. The global forum for migration and development is also a crucial stakeholder in this process.

In the opening of this Conference I mentioned examples of good practices in Canada and France, but there are so many others, like the recent agreement between the Governments of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, with the support of ECLAC, to design an integral plan that addresses the structural causes of migration in that region and that promotes cooperation.

The path of hope that brought us to Marrakesh must continue. The opportunities are within our reach.

I trust that we will be up to the challenge of international migration. We still have a lot to do to eradicate human trafficking and smuggling, which is one of the worst scourges in the world today.

Let us dedicate our efforts to the 257 million migrants or more and their families. They deserve them, because they have contributed to development, culture and prosperity in their countries of origin, transit and destination.

We must work decisively to make the United Nations more relevant for everyone but, specifically, for migrant persons. Applying the Global Compact will have a real impact on the lives of millions of migrants and the communities that take them in.

Cooperation, solidarity, learning and exchange are the key words of this Compact.

Once again thank you for your presence and your commitment, thank you for being part of this historic moment for migrant persons, for multilateralism and for the United Nations.

Thank you.