Statement by India
1st Informal Thematic Session on the Global Compact on Migration
[Geneva; 8-9 May 2017]
Mr. Chair,
At the outset, I would like to compliment the co-facilitators, panelists and all participants for their valuable inputs to the deliberation of the1st informal thematic session on the Global Compact on Migration (GCM): Human Rights of all migrants, social inclusion, cohesion...
We are happy to note that this two days thematic session has provided important ideas and way forward for GCM. This has also provided few divergent views but most of the views were positive and had converged on the issue of protecting human rights of all migrants, despite their legal status.
Mainstreaming of migration in national policies, opening of more legal channels for migration, reducing vulnerability of migrants, promoting return and re-integration of migrants are the ideas which India supports and welcomes its prominent mention in the GCM. India also supports bilateral and regional mechanisms to address the issue of migration.
India extends its full support for realizing safe, orderly and well managed migration through better implementation of existing rules, regulations and norms, and adoption of minimum set of international standards; rather than setting out of new set of rules and norms.
Meanwhile, India calls for liberalizing of the norms for bona-fide economic migrants and not to adopt any additional qualitative or quantitative barriers to economic migration.
In conclusion, I would like to quote from Peter Sutherland Report on Migration where he states, “If we retreat, migration will not only fail to deliver the benefits it holds out; it risks being a major source of political instability in the coming decade.”
Thank you Mr. Chair and co-facilitators.
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