Global Compact on Migration: Special Event on the Role of African NHRIs
The National Human Rights Council of Morocco (CNDH) and the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) organize a special event on “the Role of African NHRIs in the process of negotiations leading to the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration” on Sunday, May, 7th, 2017 in Niamey, Niger.
The event aims to help deepen reflection, at the African level, on the process of negotiations leading to the Global Compact on Migration. It will bring together several African national human rights institutions (NHRIs), civil society actors, representatives of the African Union and experts on migration issues.
The event is also an opportunity: to inform on the processes of the Global compact and the related issues and challenges, to sensitize African NHRIs about the importance of cooperation to achieve a common African migration policy, and to adopt a common African position integrating the recommendations of the African NHRIs on migrants and refugees’ human rights.
The discussions will mainly focus on the African Union Migration Policy and Civil society organizations’ actions to defend migrants’ rights. NHRIs will share their best practices on migration issues and rights and exchange on the opportunities to effectively engage in the Global Compact for Migration processes.
Mr. Mohamed Charef, CNDH board members, Mr. Gilbert Sebihogo, NANHRI Executive Director, and Amb. Salah S. Hammad, Senior Human Rights Expert (Department of Political Affairs of AUC), will open the floor, at the opening ceremony of the event.
Global Compact and role of NHRIs
The challenges and issues of migration, refugees and forced displacement worldwide have become an urgent matter for the international community and a reality for all. Amidst this humanitarian crisis, Resolution A/RES/71/1, adopted on 19 September 2016 at a summit held by the UN in New York, was of great importance for the negotiations, which should lead to the adoption of the Global Compact on Migration by 2018. The Resolution unanimously recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to issues related to human mobility.
Following the summit, it was decided to initiate a process for the adoption of two separate international compacts: one on migration and the other on refugees. Member States also agreed that the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration should be developed following an inclusive approach based on consultations and negotiations involving States, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), civil society, communities and migrants themselves.
First and foremost, NHRIs can play a key role in the Global Compact developing process, taking into account their mandate to promote and protect human rights for all, including migrants, refugees, and displaced persons. Secondly, NHRIs, which can play a “mediating role” between national and international stakeholders, can bring together the various national actors, help raise their awareness on the issue and involve them in the drafting process of the Global Compact. Finally, the essential role of NHRIs in the UN human rights system is also reflected in Resolution 70/163 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, as it called on all UN mechanisms and processes to strengthen the participation of NHRIs in their work.
The CNDH was appointed as the African focal point of the Global Alliances of NHRIs (GANHRI) in the Global Compact process, in accordance with GANHRI approach that aims to support NHRIs’ participation and contributions to all stages of this consultation process.
In September 2013, the CNDH published a report on “Foreigners and Human Rights in Morocco - For a radically new asylum and migration policy”. The report called for “a genuine public policy that protects human rights, based on international cooperation and integrating civil society.” The Moroccan government has interacted positively with the recommendations of the Council and initiated a new migration policy based on both a global and humanist approaches. This policy has considered the essence of the international law and multilateral cooperation and has started with the important steps: launching a campaign to document migrants, appointing a national appeal committee, and launching a process to reform legislations governing migration, asylum, and trafficking in persons.
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