The GFMD Process

The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) emerged as an outcome of the UN General Assembly’s High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development in 2006. It is a state-led (but not states-only), voluntary process dedicated to informal, non-binding and outcomes-oriented dialogue. Policymakers and stakeholders from many countries all over the world participate in various GFMD meetings, in particular a large annual GFMD convening, to discuss the relation between migration and development, share experiences and forge practical cooperation.

Although state-led, the GFMD directly engages civil society partners, including migrant and diaspora organizations, human rights and development groups, labour unions, and members of the academic community and the private sector. Civil society partners are invited to provide input and make recommendations and concrete proposals. To this end Civil Society Days (CSD) are organized prior to the annual meeting of governments.

Each year the GFMD is organized by a different host government.  For its sixth year in 2012, the Chair is the Republic of Mauritius. In 2013, the Global Forum will not take place; instead the General Assembly of the UN will be hosting the second High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. In 2014 Sweden will be chairing the GFMD; in 2015, Turkey.

You can download the GFMD Civil Society Fact Sheet here. [EN, FR, ES]

The GFMD Civil Society Process

Since 2011, and upon the invitation by the GFMD Chairs Switzerland and Mauritius, civil society activities for the GFMD have been facilitated by a GFMD Civil Society Coordinating Office, under the auspices of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC). (For more information see “organization”)

This year the Civil Society Days will take place on 19 and 20 November, prior to two days of government meetings on 21 and 22 November, all in Mauritius. Results and recommendations from the CSD will be presented to governments during their opening session on 21 November. Following the opening session there will be a “Common Space” for dialogue between representatives of civil society, international organizations and governments.  (for more information see "Dialogue with Governments").

In addition to these annual GFMD meetings of civil society and governments, usually a number of other preparatory activities and meetings are organized by the Chair, government-led working groups and by civil society actors.  For civil society activities for 2012, keep on eye on Civil Society Programme 2012.

GFMD issues

The multiple intersections between migration and development are not all clear-cut and by no means consist of financial remittances alone.  Among the issues that civil society and governments have examined over the first five years of the GFMD are:

• Detention and enforcement, including militarization of borders and criminalization of migrants
• Environmental and climate change-induced migration
• Evidence, research and data collection
• Feminization of migration and gender perspectives
• Global governance of migration
• Irregular migration
• Labour mobility, including circular and temporary migration
• Labour rights and conditions of migration
• Migrant/diaspora empowerment and engagement for development
• Migrant remittances and development
• Migration and human development
• Protection and human rights of migrants
• Public-private partnerships
• Safe migration versus perilous transit
• Social cohesion, integration and xenophobia
• Social costs of migration, including brain drain, separated families and children left behind

For 2012 GFMD themes please keep on eye on Civil Society Programme 2012.