[Solved] Consider the following statements: 1. Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration the ‘Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). 2. The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries. 3. The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments. How many of the above statements are correct?

Q20. Consider the following statements:

1. Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration the ‘Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

2. The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries.

3. The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Answer: 4

Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

• This is the first intergovernmental agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner.
• It was adopted at an intergovernmental conference on migration in Marrakesh, Morocco on 10 December 2018.
• The Global Compact is grounded in international human rights law and reaffirms States’ commitment to respecting, protecting, and fulfilling all human rights for all migrants. The Global Compact rests on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and each of the nine core international human rights law instruments, and contains a Guiding Principle on human rights.
• Global Compact is an important framework for improved migration governance that puts migrants and their human rights at the centre and that provides a significant opportunity to strengthen human rights protection for all migrants, regardless of status.
• The Compact is a “non-binding cooperative framework”, meaning it has limited weight under International Law
• On 10 December 2018, the document was approved by 164 nations during the Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
• On 19 December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the compact through a vote. Hence, Statement 1 is Incorrect.
• 152 countries voted in favor of the resolution to endorse it, while the United States, Hungary, Israel, Czech Republic and Poland voted against it.
• 12 countries abstained from the vote.
• The agreement makes no distinction between illegal and legal migrants, but does distinguish repeatedly between regular and irregular migrants, affirms the right of states to distinguish between regular and irregular migration status, and commits signatories to “preventing irregular migration“.
• The GCM is a non-legally binding agreement.
• It represents a cooperative framework based on shared principles, not a binding treaty.
• Countries are encouraged to implement the objectives, but there are no legal obligations.
• Hence, Statement 2 is Incorrect.
• The GCM focuses on international migration — that is, movement across borders.
• Internal migration (movement within a country) and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are not covered under the GCM.
• IDPs are typically addressed under separate frameworks, like those by the UNHCR (for internal displacement). Hence, Statement 3 is Incorrect