UNITED NATIONS - Members of the United Nations, on the eve of their VIP-packed annual UN General Debate and in the face of the recent wave of refugees and migrants, on Monday committed to working for a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration through a 2018 compact.
The outcome document of this summit, the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, "represents a breakthrough in our collective efforts to address the challenges of human mobility," said UN Secretary-General Ban in his opening remarks. It means that "more children can attend school; more workers can securely seek jobs abroad, instead of being at the mercy of criminal smugglers."
"More people will have real choices about whether to move once we end conflict, sustain peace and increase opportunities at home, " he said.
In response to growing xenophobia and as called for in the declaration, Ban launched a campaign dubbed "Together -- Respect, Safety and Dignity for all."
Also Monday, in connection with the Summit, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), formed after World War II, formally joined the UN family when Ban and William Swing, Director-General of the IOM signed an agreement for the agency to work with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
newly installed President Peter Thomson of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly said, "I will take forward the commitment of the membership to begin a process leading to a global compact on migration, as well as to support a global compact on refugees." (Xinhua)