– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly

19 July 2019

Excellencies,

Seven months ago, the General Assembly endorsed the Global Compact for safe and orderly and regular migration. Today I am pleased that we are moving forward with the implementation of the Global Compact through the adoption of the modalities of the International Migration Review Forum.

The Forum becomes a foundation for the implementation of the Global Compact, which aims at achieving a positive impact in the lives of millions of migrants, their families and communities around the world. It provides room for Member States to share their best practices and their challenges. It gives space for partners such as the UN System, civil society, the private sector and migrant communities to engage.   

The International Migration Review Forum establishes a cooperation and exchange mechanism where each country can act according to their own priorities, visions and internal frameworks to achieve a safe, orderly and regular migration.  

Today’s decision of the General Assembly underlines the importance of cooperation, multilateralism, and the UN’s relevance. With the adoption of this resolution, we send a strong message that we must work together to find solutions to the global challenges.

Let me once again take this opportunity to thank to H.E. Mr. Masud Bin Momen, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh and H.E. Mr. Agustín Santos Maraver, Permanent Representatives of Spain for their excellent work as cofacilitators of the resolution.

I thank all Member States and stakeholders for their engagement and commitment to achieve this very important result and maintain the momentum created over the past several years.  

I thank you.