Strengthening cooperation on migration and refugee movements in the perspective of the new development agenda

New York

30 September 2015

Overview

The United Nations Secretary-General will convene a side event on migration during the High-Level segment of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The aim is to encourage enhanced cooperation and collective action in dealing with the problems and challenges of migration and human mobility, including mixed movements involving migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees. Facilitating safe, orderly and responsible mobility is also a key component of the post-2015 development agenda, which requires coordinated action not only among States, but also at all levels of Government, and with a series of non-governmental stakeholders, to ensure no one is left behind.

Convinced of the need for collective approaches, underpinned by universal principles of international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, and based on the eight point agenda for action presented to the General Assembly鈥檚 2013 High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (A/68/190), the Secretary-General will share his views on the key elements of such a global partnership and comprehensive approach to migration and refugee flows.

The High Level Side Event will also provide an important opportunity for member States to bring together different policy areas related to migration and refugee flows, and discuss enhanced cooperation across these areas. This includes the implementation of migration and integration policies, and the creation of adequate channels for orderly, safe, and regular migration with full respect for human rights, as well as the humanitarian admission of refugees, whilst improving cooperation and effectiveness in law enforcement operations aimed at combatting transnational organized crime.

Information materials

Inputs

Programme

The United Nations Secretary-General will chair the event. The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General will take over the chair once the Secretary-General leaves.

30 September 2015

15:00 鈥� 18:00

Opening segment

Mr. Ant贸nio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will make short remarks and introduce the Secretary-General.

Four Panellists will make remarks from the podium

H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davuto臒lu, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey
H.E. Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany
H.E. Mrs. Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia
H.E. Ms. Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mexico
Mr. Peter Sutherland, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration will make short, concluding remarks.

General debate
The general discussion will continue with statements from Member States that have placed their name on the speaker list. Civil society will deliver one joint statement also.

Discussants
A number of discussants will intervene at different points into the General Debate to present the regional, development and humanitarian perspective.

To discuss the European perspective