UN Photo/Joao Araujo Pinto/Flickr. CC (by-nc-nd)
Released 5 February, and with the first round of state commentaries having already taken place, the Zero Draft of the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) started off strong. It claims to be “guided by human rights law and standards” and cites human rights treaties in the preamble. It further highlights migration’s impact on the sustainable development goals (SDGs), which themselves necessitate adherence to the human rights. The Zero Draft recognises that global discussions on migration are not new, and it aspires to be, as its first guiding principle proclaims, people-centred. Delegates begin discussions on the draft today, 12 March, and so it is an important time to point out that the zero draft fails in that goal.
In all of its 22 objectives and their related actions, there is no explicit mention of protecting the basic rights of all migrants, regardless of status. This is true even for those rights stated in international law and the SDGs, and those being discussed within states, regionally, and in international migration management agreements. This is a missed opportunity.
