International treaty that provides a framework for consular relations between sovereign countries, providing guidance on establishing, maintaining and terminating consular relations, structure of consular posts and privileges and immunities of consular staff, and communication to their nationals in...

Many migrants in an irregular situation tend to live and work in the shadows, afraid to complain, denied rights and freedoms that we take for granted, and disproportionately vulnerable to discrimination and marginalization. Through a specific focus on economic, social and cultural rights, this...

The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was signed in 1990 and entered into force in 2003. It is a comprehensive international treaty that deals with the protection of migrant workers’ rights. The Convention text is available...

The purpose of this Information Note is to provide a general overview of the principle of non-refoulement and to explain how the principle applies to all migrants. To this end, the Information Note can be used as a tool by those dealing with border management or returns of migrants to avoid the...

This briefing paper focuses on the evolving role of smugglers in West Africa’s migration economy, as well as migration and smuggling patterns in West Africa and between West and North Africa. The Mixed Migration Monitoring Mechanism Initiative (4Mi) carried out a total of 153 interviews with...

The Marrakech Mayors Declaration was adopted at the 5th Mayoral Forum on Human Mobility, Migration and Development and contains the commitments of mayors and city leaders to advance the principles and objectives of both Compacts in unison. 

This convention from the United Nations was adopted in 1954 and entered into force in 1960. Its objective is to protect stateless individuals, and as of 2020, 94 member states were party to the convention.

The Sendai Framework articulates the need for improved understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions of exposure, vulnerability and hazard characteristics; the strengthening of disaster risk governance, including national platforms; accountability for disaster risk management; preparedness to...

The Paris Agreement builds upon the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and for the first time brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As...

This statement from the UN Network on Migration affirms its support for civil society through its Mobility in the Time of Covic-19 briefings, intended to amplify efforts and initiatives to ensure the well-being of migrants and their communities.

This book analyses the dynamics of regional migration governance and accounts for why, how and with what effects states cooperate with each other in diverse forms of regional grouping on aspects of international migration, displacement and mobility. The book develops a framework for analysis of...

Blog post considering States’ justifications based on national sovereignty for withdrawing from the Global Compact by analysing the legal nature of the Compact.

An outline of why protecting migrants’ rights – as in the GCM – can enhance rather than undermine state sovereignty.

Discussing the limitations placed by international law onto national sovereignty concerning the control of entry, the conditions of entry and stay and the treatment of irregular migrants.

Provides a comprehensive overview of international law that govern the movement of persons across borders and frame migration governance, including the relevant treaties and customs, from human rights law, refugee law, labour law, and criminal law, as well as the role of soft law on global migration...

The CMW/CRC Joint General Comments provides guidance on the human rights of migrant children at all stages of migration. It was adopted at the same time as joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No...

This working paper was prepared during the GCM negotiations to provide Member States and other actors an overview of international law which speak to migrants’ rights. These include primarily human rights law but also transnational criminal law, international labour law as well as other relevant...

This statement clarifies that all migrants, regardless of their migration status, are entitled to enjoy economic, social and cultural rights without discrimination.  

As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, societies are witnessing first-hand how digitalization can help confront the crisis and keep migrants, their families and communities connected. Against this context, this digest explores the multi-faceted opportunities and risks that digital...

The objectives of the UN Network on Migration (Network) as stated in the ToR are drawn from the Executive Committee  decision of 23  May  2018, and taken up by the Member States with the adoption of the GCM resolution.