Attachments
Developed by the IOM Asia–Pacific Regional Data Hub (RDH) in collaboration with the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) Team, this brief provides the latest data insights on the region’s progress in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and identifies potential areas for further development. This is achieved by comparing the regional and global implementation status across key policy areas by each of the 23 GCM objectives.
The aim of this brief is to support evidence informed discussions at the Second Asia– Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the GCM forthcoming in February 2025, as well as the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF). Additionally, this brief represents the first comprehensive overview of the GCM implementation in Asia and the Pacific drawing on IOM’s unique MGI data.
Background
Adopted in December 2018, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) is the first intergovernmental negotiated framework, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations and aimed at addressing international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner (IOM, 2020). The GCM framework aligns with Target 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in which Member States are committed to cooperate internationally to facilitate orderly, safe and responsible migration. It builds on 23 objectives, each comprising a commitment followed by a range of actions of relevance to policy instruments and best practices (UNGA, 2019).
Effective implementation of the GCM requires robust research, analysis and data-collection capacities to ensure coherent and evidence-based policymaking and well-informed public discourse. The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative was launched by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to help governments identify successful migration governance areas, as well as areas that can be further developed in their country. The MGI methodology is based on Target 10.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the GCM; therefore, the MGI can be used as a tool to guide governments towards the achievement of Global Compact commitments (IOM, 2022).
More specifically, it helps countries achieve the following:
a. Establish a national baseline for the implementation of the GCM objectives by identifying existing key migration-related policies and possible gaps in relation to such objectives.
b. Identify gaps to develop a GCM national implementation plan by supporting the identification of policy priorities and concrete actions to achieve the 23 objectives.
c. Track progress over time and report towards the achievement of GCM commitments by conducting MGI follow-up assessments.
d. Test hypotheses about the relationship between migration governance and specific policy outcomes.