The Global Compact, adopted in Morocco in December 2018, includes 23 objectives, each with a catalogue of possible actions, such as making migration channels accessible and more flexible, facilitating access to family reunification procedures for migrants and reducing processing times for permit applications for ordinary work permits.
During the inaugural session of this conference, which was to be held in Morocco, the Director of the Greater Maghreb and UMA and AU Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and MRE, Abderrazzak Laassel, stressed that the Moroccan authorities attach paramount importance to improving the conditions of migrants and the proper application of the provisions of the said Pact, highlighting the notable progress made in this area and which make it a “champion country” in the implementation of the objectives of this charter.
A series of national, continental and international measures have been deployed for the integration of migrants in host countries and the improvement of their conditions, he said, calling on African States and the international community to continue their efforts to ensure decent living conditions for migrants and guarantee rigorous respect for their rights.
“African commitment to the issue of migration is no longer in doubt,” he insisted, recalling that the continent has adopted a South-South cooperation approach based on solidarity and complementarity, which benefits all States and therefore migrants.
In the same vein, the Director of Social Affairs at the African Union Commission (AUC), Cisse Mariama Mohamed, highlighted Africa’s commitment, both at the political and humanitarian levels, to meet the challenges of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, in light of the spread of Covid-19.
It is appropriate to work together with the various African countries for the achievement of the 23 objectives of the pact but also for the effective implementation of the provisions of the Pan-African Agenda 2063, she said.
During a press briefing intended to present this conference, the representative of the IOM in Ethiopia and to the AU, Maureen Achieng, stressed the importance of coordination and exchange between African States for a concrete application of continental aspirations in this area and the emergence of good governance of the migration issue.
The free movement of people, capital, goods and services constitutes a major aspiration of the AU Agenda 2063 and a key challenge for the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), she observed.
According to Agenda 2063, free movement in Africa is expected to lead to the growth of trade and investment between African countries at unprecedented levels and will consolidate Africa’s place in global trade, she recalled, noting that the mobility of people stimulates innovation and develops investment.
For his part, the Head of the IOM Secretariat, Jonathan Prentice, noted that the implementation of the Global Compact on Migration constitutes a great achievement for African States and an opportunity for development on a continental and global scale, calling for placing migrants and particularly the most vulnerable at the heart of continental concerns and international programs.
Mr. Prentice did not fail to raise the importance of monitoring mechanisms for the proper implementation of the pact so that no country is left behind, especially in this critical international pandemic situation.
The Global Compact, which has been widely welcomed by the international community, is intended to alleviate the negative and structural factors that prevent people from finding and maintaining sustainable livelihoods in their home countries and force them to seek a future elsewhere.
It encourages countries to create enabling conditions that enable all migrants to enrich societies with their human, economic and social capacities, thereby facilitating their contribution to sustainable development at the local, national, regional and global levels.
The first Regional Review Conference will provide an opportunity for African Member States to review national, sub-regional and continental progress made in implementing the provisions and objectives of the Compact, in light of the new challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The conference will also provide an opportunity to share experiences, expertise and good practices between African countries and highlight the constraints facing the region and discuss ways to address them, particularly in this context of global health crisis.
2024-09-08 15:25:34