To kick off December, the AC Secretariat joined members and friends in Madrid, Spain, for the international event ‘The Global Compact for Migration: Critical Perspectives on Migration Policies from European Civil Society’, hosted by the Spanish Network for Monitoring the Global Compact on Migration.
This important event brought together voices from Latin America, Africa and Europe to address urgent migration challenges and explore how the Global Compact for Migration can drive fairer, safer migration policies, including our very own AC Coordinator, Elana Wong, and our newest team member, Hector Poveda, Communications and Policy Assistant.
The discussions were rich and varied and included these key takeaways from each of the panels:
- The inaugural panel addressed the critical role of cross-regional alliances in tackling global migration issues. Helena Olea of Alianza Américas highlighted the power of civil society to hold governments accountable and ensure human rights are upheld, while Paddy Siyanga Knudsen from the African Non-State Actors Platform and the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) emphasised the need for transnational collaboration to address structural inequalities in migration governance.
- In Panel 1: Borders and Human Rights, the focus shifted to the violence and systemic rights violations at borders. Flor Didden from Migreurop denounced the alarming increase in “pushbacks” across Europe and the lack of accountability for border violence. Desislava Todorova from Voice in Bulgaria highlighted how policies often externalise responsibilities, creating a labyrinth of evasion and neglect. Hector Poveda, representing the Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP), brought forward the perspectives of children and youth on the move by highlighting the vulnerability of child migrants, emphasising the need for disaggregated data and calling for an end to child detention through safeguarding mechanisms that uphold their rights and dignity. At the same time, Amadou Bocar Sam from the Catalan Senegalese Association (CASC) made a powerful appeal against dehumanising narratives and externalised border policies that drive migrants into increasingly dangerous journeys.
- Panel 2: Inclusive Policies and the Global Compact for Migration explored opportunities and challenges in leveraging the Compact to create inclusive migration governance. Michele LeVoy of PICUM emphasised the importance of policy coherence and the need to address child detention practices. Elana Wong highlighted the value of these spaces for fostering open, constructive discussions on irregular migration routes and basic rights access — “The more we unite with different actors, the better we can challenge government narratives and achieve real change.” Marie Lobjoy of Secours Catholique Caritas France wrapped up the panel by denouncing the disconnect between her country’s foreign and national policies, stressing the need for a clearer strategy to implement the Global Compact and a more substantial, binding agreement.
The event wrapped up with a strong collective focus on the importance of working together—across civil society, governments, and international actors. There was a clear push for migration policies that centre on human rights, greater transparency and prioritisation of human rights in border management, and real action to make the Global Compact’s commitments a reality.
Thanks to our friends and organisers Alianza por la Solidaridad, Coordinadora D’Associaons Senegalesas de Catalunia, Fundacion CEPAIM, Medicos del Mundo, Red Acoge, and Asociación Rumiñahui for inviting us to participate in these critical discussions.
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