The Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) co-hosted the South Asia Sub-Regional Consultation on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) from 5-6 November 2024 with the participation of Governments and civil society from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan as well as multiple local stakeholders and UN agencies.
Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardane delivered the keynote address.
H.E. Abdul Majeed Ibrahim, Minister of State for Homeland Security and Technology, Republic of Maldives; Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Mr. S. Aloka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration & Labour; Mr. Marc-Andre Franche, UN Resident Coordinator, Sri Lanka; and Ms. Kristin B. Parco, Chief of Mission of IOM Sri Lanka and the Maldives participated at the opening.
Comprising 23 objectives, the GCM which was adopted by a majority of UN Member States in 2018, is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement under the auspices of the UN that covers all dimensions of migration.
Participants at the sub regional consultations focused on three key areas - labour migration, countertrafficking and climate induced displacement, sharing their perspectives, common challenges and gaps in GCM implementation. They highlighted the region’s shared priorities for promoting pathways for safe, orderly and regular migration in line with the GCM objectives. These deliberations led to an outcome document to be discussed at the Second Regional Review on GCM implementation to be held from 4-6 February 2025 in Bangkok.
In her keynote address Foreign Secretary Wijewardane stated that, “A balanced migration framework which does not negatively impact a country’s societal and human resources base can contribute to addressing unemployment and has clear economic and social benefits. Broadening regularized pathways for labour migration is therefore a win-win situation for both labour-originating and labour-receiving countries.” Referring to the active role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the negotiations and subsequent adoption of the GCM, she highlighted the current interest in becoming a GCM Champion Country. She underscored the tradition of regional cooperation on migration in South Asia including the Colombo Process founded in 2003 with Sri Lanka as Chair. She also noted that migrant workers’ remittances formed a key pillar of foreign currency earnings, thereby enhancing external sector resilience of the country over the past two decades.
The Foreign Secretary appreciated the broad and flexible mandate of IOM with regard to the various aspects of situations of migration in general.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
07 November 2024
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