Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry has said that the intergovernmental conference on the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) presents an opportunity to critically evaluate the migration situation in the Arab region.

Shoukry made the comments on Wednesday during the opening session of the conference.

Shoukry affirmed that Egypt is tackling the issue of migration from a strategic standpoint and that it recognises how it can be a source, destination and transit spot for migrants.

He also stressed on the importance of addressing the root causes of irregular migration, such as development problems, adding that the issue is multifaceted and is not limited to border management.

The event was co-organised by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), and the League of Arab States (LAS), in collaboration with the Regional United Nations Network on Migration in the Arab Region, according to IOM.

The event is the first regional review held to reflect on the progress made concerning refugee movements and migration, and will include delegates from all member states, serving as a platform to enhance interaction and coordination between the countries of the region.

The GCM was adopted following a process of consultations and negotiations set in motion at an intergovernmental conference on international migration in 2018. 

It has since served as a platform for member states to set out a range of actionable commitments, means of implementation and a framework for follow-up to enhance coordination on international migration in all its dimensions, according to IOM.

ESCWA’s Executive Secretary Rola Dashti echoed this sentiment in her opening remarks, saying, “We need to work together to promote the inclusion of migrants in social policies, fight discrimination, and ensure safe, orderly and regular migration.”