The Global Commission on International Migration, the first-ever global panel addressing international migration, was officially launched by the United Nations Secretary-General and a number of governments on 9 December 2003 in Geneva. It was composed of 19 members, drawn from all regions and bringing together a wide range of migration perspectives and expertise.
In promoting a comprehensive debate on international migration, the Commission sought to develop a broader understanding of international migration by:
- Reviewing government and other migration expertise, policy approaches and best practices in all regions
- Conducting research and exploring migration interlinkages with such areas as:
- Development
- Trade
- Human Security
- Demography
- Forced Displacement
- Migrant Remittances
- International Cooperation
- Private Sector Involvement
- The Role of the Media
- National and International Security
- Collecting and disseminating migration-related information, and
- Maintaining an overall focus on how to strengthen the international governance of migration.
The Global Commission on International Migration finished its work on 31 December 2005.
- Core Group of States
-
The Commission was an independent body. It carried out its tasks in full political, analytical and managerial independence. Commissioners and Co-chairs acted in their personal capacity only.
- Following a proposal by the United Nations Secretary-General in July 2003, a Core Group of interested States convened for the purpose of preparing the establishment of the Commission. Switzerland and Sweden, together with Brazil, Morocco and the Philippines, developed an initial draft of the Commission mandate, which was reviewed further by an expanded open-ended Core Group that included 34 governments*. With the creation of the Commission on 1 January 2004, the Core Group acted as an informal consultative body for the Commission.
- By participating in the Core Group, governments:
- supported the creation of the Commission as initially suggested by the Secretary-General;
- endorsed the purpose of the Commission;
- followed and support the work of the Commission; and
- were available for on-going consultations with the Commission.
- The working relationship between the Commission and the Core Group was as follows:
- The Core Group served as a reference point for government consultations by the Commission in order to receive input for its activities.
- The Commission kept the Core Group informed of overall work in progress, through interim reports and by organizing meetings at regular intervals with all Core Group members. Such meetings normally took place with Permanent Missions in Geneva. Meetings were also be held in New York.
- The Commission could consult with individual Core Group members, including the two Co-chairs of the Core Group, Switzerland and Sweden.
- Interested Core Group governments could offer diplomatic, logistical and financial support to the Commission in the preparation and organisation of Regional Commission Meetings that will involve other governments, international institutions and the non-governmental sector (academia, corporate sector, NGOs, media, etc.)
- Irrespective of the region where Regional Commission Meetings are held, Core Group members were invited through their respective local representatives and/or otherwise.
- No financial commitments arose from participation in the Group. Interested Core Group governments could, however, consider making available financial support to the Budget of the Commission, to ensure the functioning of the Secretariat and the work of the Commission.
The Core Group Compromised:
The Core Group was chaired by Switzerland and Sweden. The Group was open-ended. Other governments expressed interest in joining the Group which also acted as a reference point for consultations by the Commission.
- Mandate
-
Migration has become a key issue for countries all over the world. An estimated 191 million persons are international migrants. A combination of contemporary forces including conflict and instability, global demographic and economic trends, facilitated travel and communication, all create powerful incentives for people to move. The scope and nature of migration is such that all countries are affected whether they are countries of origin, transit or destination, or a combination thereof.
While national policies on migration are primarily formulated on the basis of national interest, their impact has broader repercussions on states and regions beyond the countries directly concerned. As a result, during the last few years, states have increasingly sought to strengthen inter-state co-operation in order to address migration flows through a coordinated and effective approach. Intergovernmental consultation processes and international initiatives are contributing to this objective.
The Aim of the Commission was to Provide the Framework for the Formulation of a Coherent, Comprehensive and Global Response to Migration
The Commission's mandate was to:
-
Place International Migration on the Global Agenda by promoting a comprehensive debate among governments, international organisations, academia, civil society, private sector, media and other actors on all aspects of migration and issues related to migration.
-
Analyse Gaps in Current Policy Approaches to Migration and Examining Inter-linkages with Other Issue-Areas by focusing on various approaches and perspectives of governments and other stakeholders in different regions, and by addressing the relationship of migration with other global issues that impact on and cause migration.
-
Present Recommendations to the United Nations Secretary-General and other Stakeholders on how to strengthen national, regional and global governance of international migration.
-
Related Documents