Regional Policy Frameworks/

Processes

Regional Consultative Processes on Migration

Context

No tradition of multilateral cooperation on migration

Growing appreciation of common challenges and complementary objectives of diverse stakeholder

Regional cooperation on migration has outpaced multilateral efforts

RCPs form part of a broader dynamic of regional cooperation

Many regional economic, political and security institutions have added migration to their agendas

Regional Consultative Processes on Migration

Repeated regional meetings of States dedicated to discussing migration

Regional Consultative Processes on Migration

Purpose: formed specifically to address migration issues

Modus Operandi: - operate outside traditional institutional structures - flexible substantive focus according to Government priorities- informal and non-binding

• Objective: facilitate information exchange, dialogue and cooperation among States (sometimes involving regional and international organizations and civil society)

• Geographically-based or thematically organized

Regional Consultative Processes on Migration

The “RCP methodology” – examples:

Mix of high-level and technical meetings

Creation of thematic working groups

Collection and analysis of data, policies and best practices

Websites for information gathering and exchange

Observance of Chatham House rules / confidentiality

Joint statements and declarations to solidify common understandings

Regional Consultative Processes on Migration

Principal achievements of RCPs

Promote – Sharing of experience, information and good practices;– Compilation and exchange of migration data;– Capacity building in migration management; – Regional cooperation on migration matters.

Contribute to better understanding of the migration phenomenon

Build confidence and engender trust through depoliticized fora

Find common ground among States on migration issues

Regional Consultative Processes on Migration

Principal achievements of RCPs (continued)

• Create networks among counterparts

• Can help States identify collaborative approaches to common challenges

• Can lead to de facto harmonization of policies and positions

• Can prompt policy change and enhanced policy coherence at national level

• Foster bilateral relationships

Have emerged over the last 20 years

RCPs now present in all regions of the world

Multilateral responses to transnational issues

RCPs in 1985RCPs in 1991RCPs in 1996RCPs in 2001RCPs in 2008

Evolution of RCPs over time

Principal RCPs Inter-Governmental Consultations on Asylum, Refugee and Migration (IGC)Budapest ProcessCross-Border Cooperation Process (Söderköping Process) Regional Conference on Migration (RCM or Puebla Process)South American Conference on Migration (SACM)Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA)Migration Dialogue for West Africa (MIDWA)Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) RCP (IGAD-RCP)Regional Ministerial Conference on Migration in the Western Mediterranean (5+5)Mediterranean Transit Migration Dialogue (MTM)Inter-Governmental Asia-Pacific Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants (APC) Bali Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (Bali Process)Ministerial Consultations on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin in Asia (Colombo Process)Ministerial Consultations on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin and Destination in Asia (Abu Dhabi Dialogue)

Regional Consultative Processes on Migration

Growing interest in exchanges between RCPs:

2002 – Roundtable on RCPs convened as part of IOM’s International Dialogue on Migration (IDM)

2005 – Workshop on RCPs convened by IOM and the Global Commission for International Migration (GCIM)

2009 – Global Meeting of Chairs and Secretariats of Principal RCPs convened by the Government of Thailand and IOM

RCPs and the Global Forum on Migration and Development

Roundtables on regional and inter-regional processes and fora at every GFMD since 2007 (foreseen to continue)

Coordinated submissions to the GFMD by several RCPs

Agreement that RCPs should retain their separate regional identities

Recognition of opportunities for mutual learning between RCPs and the GFMD: shared state-led, non-binding, informal format

Willingness to strengthen interaction between RCPs and GFMD

IOM’s role in RCPs

As partner or observer organization

Through participation in expert capacity (e.g. research and information dissemination, policy advice, capacity-building and technical cooperation, and project implementation…)

As technical secretariat (or by providing technical or logistical support to the RCPs’ own secretariat)

As initiator of some RCPs

By conducting research on RCPs (e.g. Migration Research Series No. 3, Berne Initiative Studies…)

Conclusion

Legal Frameworks

• Clearly identifiable areas where international community and states are in agreement that sovereignty should be limited– Human rights– Protection of refugees– Combating trafficking

and smuggling in human beings

– Trade (GATS Mode 4)

Policy Frameworks

• Cooperation in broader fields of mutual interest for all states involved in migration process– Migration and

development– Labour migration– Addressing irregular

migration– Integration– Migration data– Technical cooperation

and assistance– Capacity building

Conclusion

Conclusion

• Legal and policy frameworks are not mutually exclusive

• Migration is a transnational phenomenon– Unilateral policies cannot be fully

effective– Cooperation is needed at all levels

(global, regional, bilateral) between countries of origin, transit and destination

– Important role of other stakeholders• Employers’, trade unions, migrant

associations (including diaspora groups), NGOs

International Organization for Migration

Regional and Global

Migration Governance