On Saturday, 21st September, the Civil Society Action Committee hosted an official side event on the margins of the recent Summit of the Future at the Church Centre of the United Nations in New York City. The event, “Migration for the Future: Multi-stakeholder Perspectives on the Future of Human Mobility, International Cooperation, and Sustainable Development,” was held on the second day of the ‘Action Days.’
Members, friends of the Action Committee, and representatives across society came together to discuss the current state and key influential effects of migration across the world and the ways in which we must consider the evolution of the international system and global governance to shape a ‘migration of the future’ that works for all.
Welcome and opening remarks from the organising partners highlighted the long history of migration shaping the world.
Elana Wong, Coordinator of the Action Committee, started the day by highlighting the estimated 281 million international migrants globally, their estimated 3.6% contributory share of global GDP (World Bank), and the 117 million displaced people recorded by IOM in 2022, including by growing issues such as climate change – estimated by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre as playing a role in 26.4 million displacements in 2023. Cecilie Kern, Chair of the NGO Committee on Migration and a representative from Mercy International Association emphasised that governments and other stakeholders must ‘implement comprehensive and effective international cooperation efforts to ensure that migration can happen in a safe and dignified way’, in order to ‘realise the aspirations of the Pact for the Future’. Richard Leigh, Engagement and Capacity Manager at the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD), then expanded on this to underscore the little mention of diaspora communities, leaders, and contributions in the Pact and their crucial role in driving global development. Finally, Milena Franke, co-director of the Migration Youth & Children Platform (MYCP), called attention to the growing drivers of migration still not being sustainably addressed, including violent conflict and persecution in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, and that current efforts for better migration governance and policy globally ‘does not really feel real for those experiencing it’.
This was followed by a lively discussion between our three speakers, who represented different corners of civil society and underrepresented perspectives.
Reverend Khader El-Yateem, a Palestinian-American community organiser, Lutheran pastor, and Executive Director for Service and Justice at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), lamented the growing dehumanisation of migrants and oppressed peoples. “Most of us will be displaced [at some point now or in the future],” he told the full room. We need to talk about humans, [we need to talk about] dignity and respect,” and leverage compassionate spaces and solutions such as their Sanctuary Church programme.
His testimony was complemented by scholar-practitioner recommendations from Dr. Lara-Zuzan Golesorkhi, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Migration, Gender and Justice, and Assistant Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs / Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies at the University of Portland, whose family has experienced displacement from Iran and Eastern Europe. Dr Golesorkhi advocated for three main changes needed in global governance: improved data and connections towards the development of evidence-based policy, active bridges and space for migrants to be at decision-making tables, and an urgent need for policy coherence and alignment across national and international frameworks. Notably, she asserted that the Pact “offers space to rally” and that we must include migrants in this process as “knowledge producers in their own right”.
Finally, Heela Yoon, Founder of the Afghan Youth Ambassadors for Peace Organisation (AYAPO) and a UNSG Young Leader for the SDG, called out the continued hostile environment and hypocrisy of the international system. “Resilience is never a choice”, she reminded us, referring to the hollowness of such praise for displaced peoples when little is done to address drivers. She emphasised how the “lack of accountability and implementation [has created] a sense of numbness” from grassroots voices, who must appeal for change “over and over”, and that we must all take it upon ourselves to help as much as we can at all levels- even in our individual lives. The audience resonated with her rallying final call to action- “it is all our responsibility to challenge systems of oppression everywhere”.
Interventions from the floor were rich and numerous, primarily focused on the ongoing issues of accountability and how to address the increasing spread of anti-migration narratives.
Some of the interventions included Daniel Naujoks from Columbia University, who raised questions around the severe lack of accountability mechanisms and whether there are tools, such as soft law, that can be further utilised. Elvina Quaison from Shabaka Diaspora also pointed to potential new partners, such as their programme with Meta, to tackle disinformation and xenophobia on social media. In addition, Victor Genina from Caritas Internationalis delivered a powerful message highlighting the fragility of the multilateral system in the face of these challenges. Contributing a valuable Member State perspective, John Phillips, Humanitarian Advisor for the US Mission to the United Nations,emphasised the importance of collaborating with civil society on advocacy, challenging harmful language, and the US initiatives around regional and national agendas, including the LA Declaration and expanding regular pathways.
The session closed with two sets of remarks.
First, Pär Liljert, Director of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Office to the UN in New York, highlighted the critical role that civil society and stakeholders play, thanking CS actors for their support and engagement. He reflected on their outreach to improve the engagement of local governments and their efforts to include references to the Global Compact on Migration in the Pact. He also looked towards the potential of the upcoming International Migration Review Forum in 2026. Finally, Christine Mangale from the Lutheran World Federation, also a member of the NGO Committee on Migration, delivered a resounding final call to action to build solidarity and accountability- from the individual to the international level.
It was clear that the Pact presents an opportunity for stakeholders across society to push and improve our global governance system for efficacy, accountability, and change on the ground. However, civil society will have to stand ready as we watch what progress may or may not be made. Concerns around real impact potential were raised in the lead-up to the Summit as, whilst some countries pushed for more inclusive language and actionable changes- the reference to migration only being added in after the 1st Revision, the Pact went through multiple rounds of negotiations and language changes. Many civil society and grassroots organisations and communities also expressed difficulties and significant limitations in opportunities for meaningful and inclusive engagement and participation opportunities during the drafting and negotiation of the Pact, with many pointing to the emphasis placed on the UN Civil Society Conference, which lacked resources and clear information on its objectives, already limiting the CS actors engaged in the process. It is also still unclear how and what the timelines will be for implementing the Pact’s recommendations and vision.
However, one thing is undoubtable. To build a future that leaves no one behind, civil society, migrant and diaspora communities, and society as a whole must have a global governance system designed for real change and accountability.
Summary of Key Takeaways
- We urgently need policy based on evidence, human rights standards, and consideration of migrant communities in their diversity, based on improved data and migrant representation.
- All policies and narratives must be defined by compassion, dignity, respect, a holistic approach, and input from intersectional lived experiences- with the embedded understanding that migrants are not just subjects. Narratives and policies must talk about humans and recognise that ‘resilience’ is never a choice.
- We urgently need a framework for accountability, with critical thinking around the whole-of-society approach and actors involved in its planning, design, implementation, oversight, monitoring and evaluation. Migrants and refugees themselves must be part of decision-making at all levels. The Pact provides an opportunity to establish policy coherence across all frameworks.
- In the current age of hostile environments, we must combat the dehumanisation of migrants and people from certain communities- we are called to humanise and uplift underrepresented and vulnerable voices. We cannot achieve change without challenging systems of oppression.
Action Committee Organising Partners: The NGO Committee on Migration (Mercy International Association, Lutheran World Federation, UNANIMA International), International Detention Coalition (IDC), Migration Youth & Children Platform (MYCP), and the Africa Foundation for Development (AFFORD UK). Supported by the AC Secretariat
Organising Partners non-member friends of the AC: The Center for Migration, Gender and Justice (CMGJ), and the Pan African Women’s Association
