Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly

15 July 2022

 

Excellencies,

Friends,

 

It is my pleasure to meet with you, and to learn more about the Guatemalan government’s policies to address challenges relevant to migrants and refugees.

 

We live in a world where major displacement crises are multiplying. The Americas are no exception. 18.5 million of the total global population of displaced persons are here, adding another layer of complexity to a region that has long been characterized by ongoing mixed movements.

 

I want to highlight that despite the many national challenges Guatemala faces, the country has demonstrated remarkable solidarity with refugees and displaced people.

 

Guatemala’s commitment to working alongside the international community, to help shape responsible, safe, and effective policies to govern global migration, was confirmed during the inaugural International Migration Review Forum, held in May this year.

 

The country’s constructive engagement was further demonstrated by Guatemala’s support in adopting the International Migration Review Forum statement of progress. This text is ambitious and sets a positive tone for global migration management in the years to come.  

 

It will help accelerate the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration. And it will help strengthen cooperation on international migration, as states and communities build on best practices, including those that emerged during our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

My friends,

 

Facilitating information-exchange and maximizing the impact of support initiatives are important elements of migration management.  

 

I am thus honored to witness the signing of this agreement between the Government of Guatemala and the United Nations system, to set up a roundtable on migration and refugee issues. 

 

The value of this initiative exceeds the merely symbolic. It will help produce concrete solutions that will benefit migrants, refugees, and host-communities alike; and will help our efforts to shape a migration regime that is just, equitable, and leaves no one behind.

 

My sincere appreciation, once again, to Guatemala for its consistent support in this area.

 

I thank you.