Representatives from more than 150 countries signed the UN Global Compact for Migration in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Monday (10.12.2018), a text criticized by nationalists and anti-immigrants.
The agreement was approved on Monday morning. The text is intended to strengthen international cooperation for “safe, orderly and regular migration”, according to information released by the UN in Marrakech.
Without a vote or signature, the intergovernmental conference in Marrakech should be a simple formal stage of the process, prior to a final ratification vote on December 19 at the UN General Assembly.
But fifteen countries announced their withdrawal. or a freeze on its decision. “It is surprising that there has been so much misinformation about what the Pact is and what it says. It does not create any right to migrate, it does not impose any obligations on States,” insisted Louise Arbour, the UN special representative for migration, on Sunday evening at a press conference.
Of the 193 UN countries, 159 confirmed their presence in Marrakech. One hundred will be represented by their heads of state, government or ministers.
The non-binding pact sets out principles - defence of human rights, children's rights, recognition of national sovereignty - and lists measures to help countries deal with migration - exchange of information and experience, integration of migrants..
Prohibits arbitrary detentions and only authorizes arrests as a measure of last resort. There are around 258 million people on the move and migrants in the world, that is, 3,4% of the world's population.
Human rights activists say the agreement does not go far enough in providing humanitarian aid, basic services and labour rights for migrants.
Its critics consider it an incitement to uncontrolled migration flows. The United States, which had withdrawn from the drafting of the text in December 2017, considering it contrary to President Donald Trump's immigration policy, launched a new attack on Friday.
“Decisions about border security, about who is allowed to reside legally or obtain citizenship, are some of the most important sovereign decisions a country can make,” the US diplomatic mission to the UN said in a statement..
Washington has made efforts in recent months to share its views on the pact with other signatory countries, especially in Europe, according to UN diplomats. So far, nine countries have withdrawn from the process after having approved the text on July 13 in New York: Austria, Australia, Chile, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia. Seven others wanted further internal consultations: Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Israel, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland, according to Louise Arbour.
On Saturday, clashes broke out in Ottawa between pro-immigration groups and right-wing activists opposed to joining the pact.
But Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to sign it: “Welcoming people from all over the world through a rigorous immigration system is what makes Canada a strong country,” he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is also in favour of the text, arrived in Morocco on Sunday. The heads of government of Spain, Greece, Denmark, Portugal and Belgium confirmed their attendance. The decision of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel to travel to Morocco caused his coalition government with the Flemish nationalists of the N-VA to break up after several days of tension.
The anti-immigration party held a meeting in Brussels on Saturday with Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far right, and Steve Bannon, former adviser to Donald Trump, to denounce the pact, which has been denounced by populists across the EU just months before the European elections in May.
French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to send his foreign minister to Morocco to discuss the "yellow vest" protests that have been sweeping the country for three weeks.
Source: Efe
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