ECA Side Events

Synergies Between the High-Level Panel on Migration and the Global Compact on Migration

The Economic Commission for Africa will be holding a number of Side Events during the Intergovernmental Conference in collaboration with partners. 

A High-Level Side Event at the Intergovernmental Conference on the Global Compact for Migration

Saturday 8 December 2018 | 10.30-12.30

Palmeraie Room, Palmeraie Golf Palace, Marrakech

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This event, co-organized by the High-Level Panel on Migration in Africa (HLPM), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC), will take place on the margins of the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). 

Against the prevailing public perception of wave of Africans trying to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, the event will highlight an alternative vision of migration: one that acknowledges migration in Africa as an intrinsic part of development processes. The discussions will also focus on key policy priorities identified by the HLPM that are of relevance for the implementation of the GCM, namely:

The discussions will also focus on key policy priorities identified by the HLPM that are of relevance for the implementation of the GCM, namely:

1. Lifting visa barriers in line with GCM Objective 5 which states “enhance availability and flexibility of pathways for regular migration.”

2. Integrating established migrant populations in destination countries, which links to GCM Objective 16 that states “empower migrants and societies to realize full inclusion and social cohesion.”

Speakers at the event will include:

• H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, HLPM Chair
• Vera Songwe, Executive Director, ECA
• Ahmed Husen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Canada
• Cynthia Samuel-Olunjowon, Regional Director for Africa, International Labour Organization (ILO)
• Knut Vollebaek, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Norway
• Prof. Caroline Wanjiku Kihato, Migration Expert

The discussions will be guided by findings and recommendations contained in the recent HLPM report, ‘African Migration Facing Facts, Embracing Opportunities and Mitigating Challenges.’ The outcomes of the event are also expected to feed into advocacy messages for engaging with African leaders and other stakeholders.

Participants will include HLPM Member, Ministers and other senior government officials from migrant sending as well as receiving countries, heads of African regional institutions, civil society organizations, research institutions and other interested parties attending the intergovernmental conference. 

For more information, please contact:

William Muhwava

Social Development Policy Division

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Email: muhawava@un.org (webform)

In Morocco:

Media Inquiries:

Houda Filali-Ansary

Communication Officer

Bureau de la CEA en Afrique du Nord

Direct line: 21249; Tel: +212 (0) 537 548 749; Mob: +212 (0) 673 734 462 

Twitter: @CEA_ANcoms; Facebook: Cea Afrique du Nord

 www.uneca.org

The following is a list of relevant side events at the GCM conference, organized by the HLPM, ECA and their partners.