Migration is one of the defining human phenomena of the 21st century; it significantly contributes to, and has shaped current and future political, economic and social development of many parts of the world. As such, migration governance, specifically  if well-managed in a  fair and effective manner,  can deliver benefits and opportunities for migrant workers, their families, countries of origin and their host communities.

On 19 September 2016, Heads of State and Government came together for the first time ever at the global level within the UN General Assembly to discuss issues related to migration and refugees.  It was a powerful political message; that migration and refugee matters had become major issues on the international agenda. In adopting the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, the 193 UN Member States recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to human mobility and enhanced cooperation at the global level.

Comprised of 23 objectives - all of which are commitments by UN Member States - the Global Compact on Migration (GCM) outlines actions considered to be relevant policy prescriptions and best practices alongside measures for implementation, follow-up and review.  Commitments of the GCM centre on the use of data to elaborate policies, minimizing the drivers of mobility, providing accurate information, ensuring proof of legal identity and enhancing the availability of legal pathways for migration.

The GCM’s guiding principles focus on the human dimension of mobility and reaffirm States’ sovereign rights to determine their national migration policies and to govern migration within their jurisdictions.  States also can distinguish between regular and irregular migration status. 

How the African Union intends to implement the GCM
The implementation of the GCM in Africa will take full cognizance of the African Union’s strategic and policy frameworks for migration. These policy and legal frameworks include the 1991 Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community; the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA) and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the Right of Residence and Establishment. Others include the African Union Convention on Cross Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention), adopted in June 2014; the African Union Border Programme and Measures for its Consolidation, adopted in 2016; the Declaration on Migration, adopted in June 2015; and the Joint Labour Migration Programme, adopted in 2015.
The AU Member States have identifed seven pritoirties within the GCM that the continent will seek to implement in the next 3 years. The priorities include:

• Promoting fact based and data driven migration discourse 
• Protection of human rights and elimination of all forms of discrimination against African migrants and the diaspora, and addressing irregular migration in the continent, especially the prevention of trafficking and smuggling of migrants on the continent
•  Facilitation of regular migration and decent work
•  Promotion of migrants and diasporans to fully partcipate and contribute to sustainable development 
• Addressing climate change and disasters as a major drivers of irregular migration 0n the continent.

The implementation of the GCM in Africa is aimed at building a stronger global architecture on migration governance and the AU Commision will support building the capacity of its Member States to implement the above priorities,  in preparation for the International Migration Review meeting in 2022.