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Objective 17 in the Global Compact for Migration

Eliminate all forms of discrimination and promote evidence-based public discourse to shape perceptions of migration

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) is based on 23 objectives. This page provides resources for objective 17 (Eliminate all forms of discrimination and promote evidence-based public discourse to shape perceptions of migration):


“33. We commit to eliminate all forms of discrimination, condemn and counter expressions, acts and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, violence, xenophobia and related intolerance against all migrants in conformity with international human rights law. We further commit to promote an open and evidence-based public discourse on migration and migrants in partnership with all parts of society, that generates a more realistic, humane and constructive perception in this regard. We also commit to protect freedom of expression in accordance with international law, recognizing that an open and free debate contributes to a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of migration.

To realize this commitment, we will draw from the following actions:


(a) Enact, implement or maintain legislation that penalizes hate crimes and aggravated hate crimes targeting migrants, and train law enforcement and other public officials to identify, prevent and respond to such crimes and other acts of violence that target migrants, as well as to provide medical, legal and psychosocial assistance for victims;

 
(b) Empower migrants and communities to denounce any acts of incitement to violence directed towards migrants by informing them of available mechanisms for redress, and ensure that those who actively participate in the commission of a hate crime targeting migrants are held accountable, in accordance with national legislation, while upholding international human rights law, in particular the right to freedom of expression;

 
(c) Promote independent, objective and quality reporting of media outlets, including internet-based information, including by sensitizing and educating media professionals on migration-related issues and terminology, investing in ethical reporting standards and advertising, and stopping allocation of public funding or material support to media outlets that systematically promote intolerance, xenophobia, racism and other forms of discrimination towards migrants, in full respect for the freedom of the media 25;

 
(d) Establish mechanisms to prevent, detect and respond to racial, ethnic and religious profiling of migrants by public authorities, as well as systematic instances of intolerance, xenophobia, racism and all other multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination in partnership with National Human Rights Institutions, including by tracking and publishing trends analyses, and ensuring access to effective complaint and redress mechanisms;

 
(e) Provide migrants, especially migrant women, with access to national and regional complaint and redress mechanisms with a view to promoting accountability and addressing governmental actions related to discriminatory acts and manifestations carried out against migrants and their families;

 
(f) Promote awareness-raising campaigns targeted at communities of origin, transit and destination in order to inform public perceptions regarding the positive contributions of safe, orderly and regular migration, based on evidence and facts, and to end racism, xenophobia and stigmatization against all migrants;

 
(g) Engage migrants, political, religious and community leaders, as well as educators and service providers to detect and prevent incidences of intolerance, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination against migrants and diasporas and support activities in local communities to promote mutual respect, including in the context of electoral campaigns."

(GCM, 2018: para. 33)


Anti-migrant narratives use frames that directly or indirectly evoke fear, discrimination, exclusion and even hatred and violence. They often perpetuate misperceptions, stereotypes of migrants or disinformation around migration and lead to the dehumanization of migrants, negatively impacting their human rights and those of broader society. In GCM Objective 17, States committed to take action to eliminate discrimination, racism and xenophobia against migrants and to promote a new narrative on migration and migrants. 

Discrimination, racism and xenophobia in the text of the Global Compact


Objective 17 is also mentioned in the following sections of the GCM:

  • Guiding principle human rights 
  • Objective 2, para. 18 (b) 
  • Objective 7, para 23 (f) 
  • Objective 11, para. 27 (b) 
  • Objective 13, para. 29 (g) 
  • Objective 15, para. 31 (a) 
  • Objective 16, para. 32 (c) (i)

The Global Compact for Migration (GCM) report is available in AR, ZH, EN, FR, RU, ES.


 

Documents

Discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, hate speech and hate crime have a severe impact on the human rights of migrants. There is an urgent need to reframe narratives and public messaging on migration and migrants in order to uphold and promote the human rights of all migrants.
This serves as an issue brief on how to tackle potentially xenophobia and stigma.
Date of publication:
14 July 2020
Information Type:

Events

This GCM Talk seeks to explore combatting discrimination against migrants including ways in which the Anti-Discrimination advocacy tool can be used to ensure that the challenges faced by migrants at the height of the pandemic are not repeated again, and that all migrants are able to fully realize
, -

The 1st multidimensional three-stages consultations on implementation of GCM in Azerbaijan dedicated to the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) has been launched on March 30, 2022 with collaborative event co-organized by IOM Azerbaijan and State Migration Service.

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Projects

Combatting the spread of hate speech and deliberate distortions of truth on social media is increasingly recognised as an international priority.
The OSCE is committed to addressing the migration phenomenon cross-dimensionally and by capitalizing on the added value it can bring to regional and global solutions.

Training and guidance

Esta Nota Orientativa es un documento técnico que tiene como fin: i) Orientar el posicionamiento de la Red sobre la integración socioeconómica de personas refugiadas, migrantes, retornadas y población de acogida en Perú y ii) Proporcionar criterios técnicos a tomadores de decisión, funcionarios,...
Date of publication:
05 April 2023
IOM Migrant worker guidelines for employers
This publication is to provide practical guidance for business enterprises on how to recruit and employ international migrant workers ethically and responsibly.
Date of publication:
21 January 2022

Videos

We believe there is an urgent need to question and change the way we speak about migrants and migration. When migrants are portrayed in a negative light, their human rights are heavily impacted. They are discriminated, excluded and dehumanised. Communities also become divided.
When talking about the problem of refugees, we use dehumanised language, which reduces human tragedy to numbers and statistics. But this suffering concerns real people, who – just like us - have families, loved ones, friends; their own stories, dreams, goals...

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*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).