IMRF Daily Briefing: 17 May
Dear colleagues and friends,
The Mayors Mechanism – co-steered by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the Mayors Migration Council (MMC), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – is pleased to share the daily updates with regards to its activities at the International Migration Review Forum, taking place in New York City from May 16 to May 20.
This daily briefing recaps the activities and announcements of the day and lets you know what's coming up to ensure you are kept fully up to date on all IMRF discussions.
Happy reading!
You can also follow our activities on social media:
Main accounts: @GFMDmayors, @uclg_org, @MayorsMigration, @UNMigration
Formal hashtag IMRF: #Migration2022
Hashtag for local government activities at the IMRF: #CitiesIMRF
Hashtag for the Call to Local Action on Migrants and Refugees: #Call2Action
Day 2 – Tuesday, 17 May
What happened today?
Below you can find an overview of the official IMRF programme where local and regional governments have spoken, as well as other (side) events with a specific local government focus. The list is not exhaustive of all events in which local governments have participated and spoken.
IMRF Side-Event: Making Social Cohesion Work for Everyone: 8.30 – 9.30 EDT
(programme)
Concerns that xenophobia and discrimination are on the rise have sparked a panoply of investments in promoting social cohesion and combatting prejudice against people on the move. This side event aims to spark a much-needed, practical dialogue around “what works” to promote feelings of trust and blunt tensions and prejudice before they take root.
Mr. Alexander Vandersmissen, Mayor of Mechelen, Belgium, spoke as a panelist.
IMRF Roundtable 1: 10 – 1pm EDT
(programme and background paper)
This session covered objectives (2) Minimize adverse drivers, (5) Regular pathways, (6) Recruitment and decent work, (12) Screening and referral, and (18) Skills development and recognition. Member State Co-chairs: Germany and Egypt
Md Atiqul Islam, Mayor, Dhaka North, Bangladesh was invited to speak from the floor.
UCLG-Global Task Force Local and Regional Governments Day: 12.30 – 3pm EDT.
This meeting gathered the LRG constituency to discuss territorial priorities regarding the GCM and its connections with the 2030 Agenda and was followed by an exchange between mayors and the UN Deputy Secretary General.
Ms. Marta Suplicy, Secretary of International Affairs of the City of Sao Paulo
Mr. Philippe Rio, Mayor of Grigny
Ms. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown
Mr. Alexander Vandersmissen, Mayor of Mechelen
Mr. Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga
IMRF Roundtable 2: 3 – 6pm EDT
(programme and background paper)
This session covered objectives (4) Legal identity and documentation, (8) Save lives, (9) Counter smuggling, (10) Eradicate trafficking, (11) Manage borders, (13) Alternatives to detention, and (21) Dignified return and reintegration. Member State Co-chairs: Tajikistan and Ecuador
Fabrice Brad Rulinda, Mayor of Entebbe, Uganda spoke in the panel.
IMRF Side-Event: The Lampedusa Charter on Human Mobility: a municipalist call for dignity and territorial solidarity: 6.30 – 7.30 EDT.
This session gathered mayors, partners and stakeholders around the co-creation process of the Lampedusa Charter and its connections with the UCLG Pact for the Future.
Special participation of Mr Toto Martello, Mayor of Lampedusa
Mr. Mouhamadou Bamba KA, First Deputy Mayor, Commune Keur Maba
Mr. Philippe Rio, Mayor of Grigny
Mr. Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga
What did Local and Regional Governments say?
Toto Martello, Mayor of Lampedusa, Italy
Click image for video
Md Atiqul Islam, Mayor, Dhaka North, Bangladesh
Ms. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown
Migration isn’t about people leaving the country, but moving into the city. We must focus attention on structural migration drivers to address the challenges local governments face.
Mr. Philippe Rio, Mayor of Grigny
Migration is not a border tale. Cities, because of their proximity, must tell another story, of humanity and universal human rights.
Fabrice Brad Rulinda, Mayor of Entebbe, Uganda
Coming up: Day 3 – Wednesday, 18 May
Below you can find an overview of the official IMRF programme and where local governments will be speaking, as well as other (side) events with a specific local government focus. The list is not exhaustive of all events in which local governments might participate and speak.
For the full overview of all IMRF side-events, you can click here.
IMRF Side Event: Facilitating safe and regular migration pathways in a changing climate: lessons from GCM implementation: 8.30 – 9.30 EDT.
(programme, livestreaming)
Co-hosted by the C40-MMC Global Mayors Task Force on Climate and Migration, the Platform on Disaster Displacement, and IOM.
Md Atiqul Islam, Mayor, Dhaka North, Bangladesh will speak on the panel.
IMRF Roundtable 3: 10 – 1pm EDT.
(Programme, background paper, livestreaming)
Roundtable 3 will cover objectives (14) Consular protection, (15) Access to basic services, (16) Inclusion and social cohesion, (19) Migrant and diaspora contributions, (20) Remittances, and (22) Social protection.
Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG will deliver a keynote
Ms. Elizabeth Sackey, Mayor of Accra, Ghana will speak as a panellist
Mr. Alexander Vandersmissen, Mayor of Mechelen, Belgium, will speak from the floor.
IMRF Roundtable 4: 10 – 1pm EDT.
(Programme, background paper, livestreaming)
Roundtable 4 will cover objectives (1) Data, (3) Information provision, (7) Reduce vulnerabilities, (17) Eliminate discrimination and (23) International cooperation.
Ms. Fabiana Goyeneche, Director of International Affairs, Montevideo, Uruguay will speak from the floor.
IMRF Side-Event: From Marrakech to New York - Localizing the Global Compacts with a Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees: 1.30 – 2.30 EDT.
(Programme, livestreaming)
Organized by the MM in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and UNHCR will publicly launch the Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees.
Mr. Antonio Vitorino – Director General, IOM
Ms. Emilia Saiz - Secretary-General, UCLG
Mr. Erias Lukwago - Mayor of Kampala, Uganda
Ms. Vittoria Zanuso - Executive Director, MMC
Mr. Philippe Rio, Mayor of Grigny, France
Ms. Ottilie Bälz. Senior Vice President, Robert Bosch Stiftung
Ms. Stefanie Scharf, Head of the Division for policy issues of displacement and migration, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Ms. Fabiana Goyeneche, Directora de Relaciones Internacionales y Cooperación, Montevideo
IMRF Policy Debate: 3 – 6pm EDT.
(Programme, livestreaming)
The Director General of IOM will facilitate a policy debate on challenges in the implementation of the GCM, including links to the SDGs, and emerging issues related to migration
Ms. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone will speak in the panel.