The Regional office last week co-hosted the first Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safer, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

Almost 500 people took part online, including ministers and representatives of many governments across the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe region. IOM Director General and Network Coordinator, António Vitorino, delivered the opening statement noting “we are all global compact pioneers here today, as this is the first ever regional review. We have the opportunity to pave the way to ensure the Compact delivers on its clear promise and potential”.

In total, 24 distinguished panellists led the two-day discussions. Meanwhile, 26 Member States submitted written inputs, and 17 more  were received by other stakeholders, all of which are available on the network’s website alongside statements from many of the participants. 

“I would like to express our deepest gratitude for the tremendous support by all in making this event a successful one”, said Ms Renate Held, IOM’s Regional Director for South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. “ Your diligence, hard work, and several late nights – or for others early mornings, resulted in an extremely insightful discussion on the GCM”.

The event was organised by the UN Network on Migration, the Issue Based Coalition on Large Movements of Persons, Displacement and Resilience, and the IOM Regional offices in Vienna and Brussels. The event was precented by a -preceded by an informal multi-stakeholder meeting which can also be viewed on the Network’s website.

Regional reviews will now take place in other part of the world.

City of Dispatch: Vienna