Jamaica adopts UN protocol on global migration

Jamaica has adopted the United Nations Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, according to an official statement issued here Wednesday.

It said Kingston joined with several UN member states in adopting the protocol at the two-day Intergovernmental Conference in Marrakech, Morocco that coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said the Global Compact is the first intergovernmental negotiated agreement, under the auspices of the United Nations, on international migration.

Guide for enhanced management of migration

It represents a non-legally binding political commitment intended to serve as a guide for enhanced management of migration at the local, national, regional and global levels.

The statement noted that Jamaica served as a member of the credentials committee of the conference and its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Courtenay Rattray also served as co-chair of one of two panel discussions held under the theme “Partnerships and Innovative Initiatives for the Way Forward”.

The statement said that it is expected that the resolution adopting the Global Compact for Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration will be considered later this month by the United Nations General Assembly.

“The conference was held against the backdrop of divergent views among countries on what is viewed as an increasingly politically sensitive issue. The Secretary General of the United Nations addressed what he characterized as the“…many falsehoods about the agreement and the overall issue of migration,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade added.