“Now more than ever there is a need to have a greater focus on human rights in migration governance” said the Mr. Robert Kotchani, Regional Representative, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), West Africa Regional Office during his opening remarks at the three-day informal Cross-Regional Dialogue of Champion Countries Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) Champions : Peer Exchange, Implementation and Follow Up. The Cross-Regional Dialogue, jointly organized by OHCHR, IOM and UNODC, was held in Accra, Ghana from 28 - 30 December 2023, within the framework of the UN Network on Migration, with the aim to assess progress, exchange best practices, and strengthen synergies for GCM implementation.

The dialogue was attended by 85 participants (38 women) representing GCM Champions from Africa, Arab States, Europe, Asia, Latin America, including State authorities, civil society, national human rights institutions, academia, youth, and the UN Network on Migration.

The Regional Representative of OHCHR stressed, in his opening remarks, the need to have a greater focus on human rights in migration governance, which has been recognized in the Global Compact for Migration, that identifies human rights as one of its key guiding principles and emphasizes that we must “ensure effective respect for and protection and fulfilment of the human rights of all migrants, regardless of their migration status, across all stages of the migration cycle”. He noted the UN Human Rights Office recognizes the inestimable value of partnerships, including under the “One UN Approach” and reiterated that the office remains committed to working together with all partners in the various efforts towards enhancing the promotion and protection of the rights of migrants, especially migrants in vulnerable situations.

The IOM Director General and Coordinator of the UN Network on Migration, Ms. Amy Pope, in her opening remarks said that to effectively address current and future challenges, it is essential that we implement sound policies for managing migration which should be centred on the protection of migrants. She stated that this dialogue is “key to understanding and jointly exploring regional collaboration” and there is need for stronger collaboration within and across all regions to protect the rights of people along migration routes.

Speaking at the event, IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Mr Richard Danziger, noted that this third Dialogue represents a crucial juncture in the collective efforts for the effective implementation, follow-up, and review of the GCM. He stated that “in our discussions, we must explore innovative solutions and reinforce our commitment to the GCM’s objectives, ensuring that our responses are nuanced and effective”. He urged the member states to remain mindful of the human face of migration. “Let us uphold the dignity and rights of migrants, ensuring that our actions are grounded in empathy and compassion”, he said.

Key discussions were on national action plans and coordination mechanism for GCM implementation, data collection, human mobility-climate change nexus, cross-regional cooperation, information-sharing, and protection of rights of migrants with a focus on non-discrimination. The Dialogue concluded with the identification of recommended actions for accelerating GCM implementation and would inform GCM Champions’ priority interventions ahead of the upcoming 2024 GCM regional reviews.
In his closing remark, the Regional Representative of OHCHR, commended all GCM Champion Countries and stakeholders for their active participation and contributions during the dialogue which highlighted key issues relating to establishment of national action plans and national coordination mechanisms for GCM implementation in each champion countries.

OHCHR will follow up with IOM and UNODC to continue supporting the integration of the human rights-based approach in GCM implementation. On the sidelines of the Dialogue, OHCHR/WARO Regional Representative, held bilateral engagements with key partners including Ghana’s Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Attorney General, French Ambassador to Ghana, and GIZ Director in Ghana, which identified joint activities with OHCHR for 2024 including on UPR follow up, strengthening the National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow up, supporting development of a national action on business and human rights, rights of LGBT persons, and advocacy for the establishment of a Human Rights Committee in Ghana’s Parliament.