António Vitorino, Director General of the International
Organization for Migration (IOM), and Andrew Selee, President of the Migration
Policy Institute (MPI), called for charting a course that balances health
security with predictable cross-border movement.
Inaction will not only affect future migration but also
equitable pandemic recovery, they warned.
Call for harmonization
Governments and non-governmental partners attended the side
event, which was organized by IOM and MPI, together with the World Health
Organization (WHO).
Despite dramatically different contexts for migration and
mobility, participants agreed that there is a need to harmonize approaches, as
well as build out the digital and physical infrastructure of border management
and increase public funding for border crossings.
Mr. Vitorino and Mr. Selee were among participants who
voiced support for establishing a Member State-led Group of Friends to discuss
cross-border mobility and pandemic preparedness.
Implications for the future
The move would complement and support the ongoing review of
the International Health Regulations (IHR), which govern preparedness and
response to health emergencies, as well as negotiations towards a new pandemic
treaty.
"Without this common endeavour, there is an increasing
risk that future migration will become even more fragmented, accentuating the
already evident signs of a two-speed recovery from COVID-19 that leaves less
developed countries behind," said Mr. Vitorino.
"This, in turn, will stall future economic and social
development that could otherwise be accelerated through well-managed
migration," he added.
Lack of common standards
Mr. Selee noted that while there is an overall trend towards
re-opening for travel, the process continues to be highly uneven, unequal, and
uncoordinated.
"We lack common standards for requirements like
testing, common tools to prove vaccination status across borders, and a common
understanding of what works to manage public health risks at the border,"
he said.
The side event was held as part of the migration review
forum, which concludes in the UN General Assembly on Friday afternoon.
Lack of common standards
Mr. Selee noted that while there is an overall trend towards
re-opening for travel, the process continues to be highly uneven, unequal, and
uncoordinated.
"We lack common standards for requirements like
testing, common tools to prove vaccination status across borders, and a common
understanding of what works to manage public health risks at the border,"
he said.
The side event was held as part of the migration review
forum, which concludes in the UN General Assembly on Friday afternoon.
Making migration safer
The four-day meeting was held to take stock of progress
towards implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular
Migration, adopted by governments in December 2018.
IOM promotes humane and orderly migration and works closely
with governments and partners on the issue.
The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) seeks to improve
immigration and integration policies, including through authoritative research
and analysis.