GSM on the GCM: Views and Voices of the Global South Migrants on the Global Compact for Migration November 30, 2022

On the first day of the International Migrants Alliance’s (IMA) 5th Global Assembly, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) held a side event entitled GSM on the GCM in Nouvo City Hotel, Bangkok. This event focused on bringing migrants, advocates, and some members of the UN Network on Migration to discuss the outcomes and developments within the GCM process following the holding of the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) held in New York last May 2022.

Hosted by Rey Asis of APMM and Co-hosted by APWLD, it discussed insights and recommendations from participating migrants, refugees, and advocate groups on how the GCM process can be truly meaningful and effective for the sector. From actions to concrete issues to demands to actual participation of migrants and refugees in the process. The discussion goes as follows:

“Lobbying is a skill that we have to develop,” says Eni Lestari, Chairperson of IMA as she shares her experience with the United Nations during the IMRF last May. She criticized how the said forum is about migration but is without the representation of grassroots migrants and how there is no clear declaration of how the processes should look like. She reiterates that we migrants and advocates are not against the GCM, but are critical of it. The Chairperson also shares the victory of being able to speak of the struggles and demands of grassroots migrants. She emphasized, there should be “Nothing about Migrants, Without Migrants”.

Attorney Edwin Dela Cruz of International Seafarers Action Center (ISAC) Phils also shared their experiences and efforts to maximize the UN Mechanism. They were able to have a side event with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. They also held a side event with Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law, and Development (APWLD). He attended the Philippine Side Event, even though they were not invited. He reminds everyone of the need to maximize every chance, be persistent and creative, and lobby bodies that are sympathetic to the migrant cause.

Representative of Asociacion Civil de Derechos Humanos Mujeres Unidas Migrantes y Refugiadas en Argentina (AMUMRA), Natividad Obeso shared their struggles in participating in the GCM in Latin America. She talked about organizing in MIREDES International and strategies that they employed to be united on a bigger cause which is the rights of workers and migrants. Natividad demands a permanent desk in the United Nations.

Pia Oberoi of the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) agrees with fellow delegates that the GCM is one of the many tools that migrants and advocates should use. Pia highlights the 360° vision of the global compact and how, as with any UN framework, it only comes to life on the ground. She discussed organizations that are experts on the UN Process. And that we should put emphasis on the country level, and the parts of the GCM that are going to be implemented at the national level. Pia proposed to use the indicators proposed in previous UN reports. She also encouraged the delegates to challenge champion countries and their indicators. Finally, she emphasizes the significance of coming up with recommendations on what we could do better during meetings of grassroots organizations.

Aaron Ceradoy of APMM shares how the Grassroots Migrants and Refugees Forum (GMRF) was a crucial key point during the IMRF. He emphasized the importance of a mass movement behind the sterile diplomatic rooms. And how different kinds of significant actions and mass gatherings are significant if we are to continue engaging in official processes. Prior to the UN Summit, one key aspect of why Eni Lestari, Chairperson of IMA, was chosen to speak is the support inside the UN and the lobbying with the secretary-general. He reminds us that it is good to go beyond the usual objectives and to engage continuously.

APWLD representative, Misun Woo shares several reflections and fundamental challenges that we are facing. Most government in the Asia Pacific is authoritarian, undemocratic, and neoliberal. According to Misun, a practical question for us is between the migrants and the local government. She cites that not only in GCM but also in other processes, governments in our region try their best not to come up with a collective decision to have a complete disconnect. To make the regional process more meaningful, Misun suggests a mechanism to consider a pre-volunteer review level to provide interaction between migrants and the government in the region.

Anisur Khan of IMA Research Foundation who is also representing a network of Trade Union in West Africa worked in the GCM back in 2018. He shares that he had the opportunity to present documents to the UN. Anisur also shares frustrations with the current UN processes that are dominated by states. At the same time, he acknowledges that it is still important to be a part of the process, as it can be a space of confrontation and denunciation. The idea of international law is to be a bridge but there are issues on two levels: representation, and competition between NGOs. He ends with a challenge to ask ourselves how we must continue our struggle amidst fast-paced changes and systems collapse.

Rey Asis of APMM ends the discussion with the magnitude of solidarity and partnership. How offices should come together, and build upon existing relationships. And how the Global Compact for Migration should be utilized as a tool to amplify the issues and demands of migrants and to strengthen partnerships with the government.

The “GSM on the GCM: Views and Voices of the Global South Migrants on the Global Compact for Migration” successfully gathered input on how the GCM can concretely be relevant to migrants and refugees issues, campaigns, and struggles, and in particular defining indicators for migrants’ awareness on the GCM; migrants and refugees’ meaningful participation in the GCM process; and implementation of the GCM at the international, regional, and most importantly, national levels.

#GSMonGCM #GCM #NothingAboutMigrantsWithoutMigrants