Regional migration governance: contributions to a sustainable international migration architecture

Abstract

Technical and financial capacities of regional organizations ought to be improved so that they can tackle regional migratory challenges effectively and in line with global regulatory requirements. This is not only true for security-relevant areas such as the protection of borders or migration control but also for the implementation of regional standards pertaining to the freedom of movement and, in particular, for the protection of refugees and vulnerable migrants. It also applies to promoting the positive effect migration has on human development. Regional and inter-regional dialogue forums help to mediate conflicts between different national interests and can strengthen the overall coherence of international migration policy. Building up these forums ought to be promoted, the exchange between national, regional and global actors intensified, and the inclusion of civil society actors in regional cooperation formats improved. Regional organizations have developed groundbreaking norms and standards in very different areas of refugee and migration policy, for instance ECOWAS in West Africa or IGAD in East Africa. In the preparation of the global compacts for migration and on refugees, they have so far primarily been able to provide their input in the consultation phase. To give their positions more weight, they should be granted the right to contribute their own texts in the negotiation phase. It is also important to grant them an active role in the review and follow-up process of the two global compacts.