Civil Society at the Second Informal Interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing

As part of the preparatory process for the Global Compact for Migration, the second Informal Interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing took place on 11 October 2017 at the Palais des Nations and was attended by a number of civil society representatives. PICUM – Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants Director Michele Levoy, who spoke from the panel [00:42], and MADE Programme Coordinator Sophie van Haasen [01:12] presented the main takeaways from the European Regional Civil Society Consultation that took place a week earlier, 2 – 3 October in Brussels.

Issues of immediate concern were regional policy developments that showcase an increased focus of the European Union to curb irregular migration across its borders to the detriment of protection of migrants en route. Hence the conclusion that the Compact should move beyond addressing only external policy elements to providing access to services and pathways out of irregularity. On this note, the speakers cited promising practices concerning access to rights and services for all migrants regardless of status that were highlighted by the participants of the European RCSC.

Further during this meeting, ICMC took the opportunity to present the Now and How: TEN ACTS for the Global Compact advocacy document, an attempt of civil society vision on the Global Compact for Migration. The document is open for sign-on. The results of the European and other Regional Civil Society Consultations will feed into the Civil Society Stocktaking taking place 2 – 3 December in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where the TEN ACTS will serve as one of the supporting documents.