1. Large movements of refugees and migrants
Joop Theunissen, with thanks to Migration Section,
Population Division
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations 1 1

2. SDGsinaction.com

3. Key migration-related targets
Strengthen and retain the health workforce in developing countries (3.c)
Increase the number scholarships for study abroad (4.b)
Eradicate human trafficking (5.2, 8.7, 16.2)
Protect labour rights of migrant workers (8.8)
Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration (10.7)
Reduce transaction costs of remittances (10.c)
Establish legal identity including through birth registration (16.9)
Disaggregate data by migratory status (17.18)

4. Who is an international migrant. (UNDESA, 1998
Who is an international migrant? (UNDESA, Recommendation on statistics of international migration)
Any person who changes her/his country of residence
Part of this definition:
A move
Minimum duration of stay
Not part of this definition:
Reason (work, family, study, asylum, etc.)
Legal status

5. 244 million people worldwide
What is the scale of migration? (UNDESA, International Migration Report, 2015)
244 million people worldwide
Of which 24 million refugees and 3 million asylum-seekers
These 24 million refugees are part of 64 million people forcibly displaced – either internally (40 million) or across borders (24 million)

6. What is the scale of migration
What is the scale of migration? (UNDESA, International Migration Report, 2015)
Out of 244 million worldwide:
103m from Asia (43/%)
62m from Europe (37%)
37m from Latin America (15%)
34m from Africa (14%)
To where:
USA (37m), Germany (12m), Russian Federation (12m), Saudi Arabia (10m)

7. From where to where?

9. Number of international migrants likely to increase
International migrant stock, (millions)
Proportion of international migrants in total population
growth rate
growth rate
growth rate
3.3%
3.2%
2.8%
2.9%
1990
2000
2010
2015
2050
Source: UN/DESA, Population Division (2015).
Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 revision 9

10. Changes in working age population will be significant (2015 – 2050)
Source: UN, DESA, Population Division (2015).
World Population Prospects: The 2015 Revision

11. Who is a refugee? (1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, Art .1)
Refugee definition (art. 1):
well-founded fear of being persecuted
reasons: race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion
outside country of nationality and unable to return
Non-refoulement (art. 33):
No country shall expel or return ('refouler') a refugee to a territory where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion

12. Global displacement trends

13. Uneven responsibility sharing for refugees
Ratio of refugee population to gross domestic product per capita (PPPs)
Source: UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2014, Annex Table 26.
Indicators of host country capacity and contributions, end-2014

14. Migrant remittances: A key contribution to development
Top 5 recipients (2013)
Top 5 recipients as a share of GDP (2012)
Total:
414 billion USD
US$ billion
% of GDP
India
China
Philip- pines
Mexico
Nigeria
Tajikistan
Kyrgyz Republic
Nepal
Moldova
Lesotho
Source: World Bank
United Nations, Population Division/DESA

15. Ratification of relevant conventions illustrates Member States’ concerns

16. UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants (New York, 19 September)
Political commitments
Affirm commitments for refugees and migrants
Launch global campaign “Together — Respect, Safety and Dignity for All”
Develop global compact for on responsibility-sharing for refugees (2018)
Develop global compact for safe, regular and orderly migration (2018)
Develop guidance to protect migrants in vulnerable situations (2018)
Concrete pledges
Resettlement, humanitarian assistance, development aid, conflict resolution

17. New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants – key political commitments
Affirm commitments for refugees and migrants
Launch global campaign “Together — Respect, Safety and Dignity for All”
Develop global compact for on responsibility-sharing for refugees (2018)
Develop global compact for safe, regular and orderly migration (2018)
Develop guidance to protect migrants in vulnerable situations (2018)

18. Imagine… a new global compact

19. Global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration
What: Framework for international cooperation on migrants and mobility
When: Adopted at 2018 international conference on international migration
How: Preparatory process, intergovernmental negotiations
Basis: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

20. Global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration – key elements
Drivers of migration
Safe, orderly, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people through well-managed migration policies
Cooperation for border control
Combat human trafficking, migrant smuggling, irregular migration
Return and readmission
Protect migrants in vulnerable situations and countries in crisis
Contribution of migrants and migration to development
Impact of migration on human capital
Integration, inclusion and regularization
Obligations of migrants in host countries
Human rights of migrants; migrants in vulnerable situations
Improve labour conditions and working environments for migrants
Portability of qualifications, skills and earned benefits
International cooperation on migration

21. Imagine…

22. Thank you!