Archbishop Auza: Commitment Essential for Progress on Migration

‘States are offered this critical window of opportunity to negotiate an international framework of best practices and norms for safe, orderly and regular migration.’

Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, on February 5, 2018, stressed the need for nations to be committed to progress on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. (GCM).
His comments came during a briefing at the United Nations in New York, following the release of the first draft of the GCM.
During the briefing, the co-facilitators explained that the draft was influenced significantly by the final report from the stocktaking meeting that took place in Puerto Vallarta during phase II of intergovernmental process. The co-facilitators emphasized that the draft reflects Member State interventions made during that phase, striking a careful balance. The draft is also careful to reflect a “common sense of purpose” that can be shared by all Member States. In addition, it seeks to address migration holistically, taking in every possible angle, challenge and concern expressed.
The draft itself is broken down into four sections. The preamble contains the common vision for the compact as well as 10 guiding principles which form its foundation. This is followed by a section on the cooperative framework, which lists 22 objectives that include actionable commitments, moving from the principles laid out in the New York Declaration toward concrete proposals and policies for State led implementation. The document then ends with a section suggesting possible Means of Implementation (MOI) as well as mechanisms for the Follow-up and Review of the GCM.
Archbishop Auza’s Statement
Distinguished Co-facilitators,

Thank you both for all the hard work you and your team put into to advance the process thus far. My Delegation welcomes the zero draft as a good basis for negotiations. As stated in the draft, the final outcome will only be as good as our collective investment and commitment to the intergovernmental process that we have all engaged in since last year, which calls us to an even greater sense of purpose as this zero draft will be negotiated in the coming months.

Building on the New York Declaration, States are offered this critical window of opportunity to negotiate an international framework of best practices and norms for safe, orderly and regular migration.

The Global Compact aims to address all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. Along these lines, the recognition that States maintain their respective sovereign right to control their borders, and that, at the same time, they have responsibility to respect and protect the human rights of all will remain among the core principles in the Global Compact. They are not competing obligations and responsibilities, but rather complementary, providing a necessary balance.

Integration is a two-way process, entailing reciprocal rights and duties. Those who welcome are called to promote the integral human development of those who are welcomed, while the latter must necessarily conform to the laws of the country offering them hospitality.

Pope Francis hopes that this process will lead to results that respond adequately to a world community growing ever more interdependent, and thus in greater need of solidarity and mutual assistance. In this respect, the upcoming negotiations will give all stakeholders the opportunity and the responsibility to keep in mind the protection and advancement of all persons, especially those in situations of great vulnerability.