Plan International - Girls' Rights Platform - Girls' rights are human rights: Positioning girls at the heart of the international agenda

The comprehensive refugee response framework will be developed and initiated by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in close coordination with relevant States, including host countries, and involving other relevant United Nations entities, for each situation involving large movements of refugees. A comprehensive refugee response should involve a multi-stakeholder approach, including national and local authorities, international organizations, international financial institutions, regional organizations, regional coordination and partnership mechanisms, civil society partners, including faith-based organizations and academia, the private sector, media and the refugees themselves.

[At the outset of a large movement of refugees, receiving States, bearing in mind their national capacities and international legal obligations, in cooperation, as appropriate, with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, international organizations and other partners and with the support of other States as requested, in conformity with international obligations, would:] Put in place measures, with appropriate legal safeguards, which uphold refugees' human rights, with a view to ensuring the security of refugees, as well as measures to respond to host countries' legitimate security concerns;

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] Return and readmission, and improving cooperation in this regard between countries of origin and destination;

[States, in cooperation with multilateral donors and private sector partners, as appropriate, would, in coordination with receiving States:] Mobilize adequate financial and other resources to cover the humanitarian needs identified within the comprehensive refugee response framework;

[States, in cooperation with multilateral donors and private sector partners, as appropriate, would, in coordination with receiving States:] Provide resources in a prompt, predictable, consistent and flexible manner, including through wider partnerships involving State, civil society, faith-based and private sector partners;

[States, in cooperation with multilateral donors and private sector partners, as appropriate, would, in coordination with receiving States:] Take measures to extend the finance lending schemes that exist for developing countries to middle-income countries hosting large numbers of refugees, bearing in mind the economic and social costs to those countries;

[States, in cooperation with multilateral donors and private sector partners, as appropriate, would, in coordination with receiving States:] Provide assistance to host countries to protect the environment and strengthen infrastructure affected by large movements of refugees;

We recognize that millions of refugees around the world at present have no access to timely and durable solutions, the securing of which is one of the principal goals of international protection. The success of the search for solutions depends in large measure on resolute and sustained international cooperation and support.

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] Harnessing the contribution of diasporas and strengthening links with countries of origin;

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] The scope for greater international cooperation, with a view to improving migration governance;

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] The impact of migration on human capital in countries of origin;

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] International cooperation for border control, with full respect for the human rights of migrants;

We envisage also that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration and Development, Mr. Peter Sutherland, would coordinate the contributions to be made to the negotiation process by the Global Forum on Migration and Development and the Global Migration Group. We envisage that the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other entities with significant mandates and expertise related to migration would contribute to the process.

[States, in cooperation with multilateral donors and private sector partners, as appropriate, would, in coordination with receiving States:] Consider establishing development funding mechanisms for such countries;

We believe that actions should be taken in pursuit of the following durable solutions: voluntary repatriation, local solutions and resettlement and complementary pathways for admission. These actions should include the elements set out below.

We envisage a comprehensive refugee response framework for each situation involving large movements of refugees, including in protracted situations, as an integral and distinct part of an overall humanitarian response, where it exists, and which would normally contain the elements set out below.

We emphasize the multidimensional character of international migration, the importance of international, regional and bilateral cooperation and dialogue in this regard, and the need to protect the human rights of all migrants, regardless of status, particularly at a time when migration flows have increased.

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] International migration as a multidimensional reality of major relevance for the development of countries of origin, transit and destination, as recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] The need to address the drivers of migration, including through strengthened efforts in development, poverty eradication and conflict prevention and resolution;

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] Identifying those who have been trafficked and considering providing assistance, including temporary or permanent residency, and work permits, as appropriate;

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] Protection of labour rights and a safe environment for migrant workers and those in precarious employment, protection of women migrant workers in all sectors and promotion of labour mobility, including circular migration;

The global compact would be elaborated through a process of intergovernmental negotiations, for which preparations will begin immediately. The negotiations, which will begin in early 2017, are to culminate in an intergovernmental conference on international migration in 2018 at which the global compact will be presented for adoption.

The President of the General Assembly is invited to make early arrangements for the appointment of two co-facilitators to lead open, transparent and inclusive consultations with States, with a view to the determination of modalities, a timeline, the possible holding of preparatory conferences and other practicalities relating to the intergovernmental negotiations, including the integration of Geneva-based migration expertise.

[At the outset of a large movement of refugees, receiving States, bearing in mind their national capacities and international legal obligations, in cooperation, as appropriate, with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, international organizations and other partners and with the support of other States as requested, in conformity with international obligations, would:] Take steps to ensure the credibility of asylum systems, including through collaboration among the countries of origin, transit and destination and to facilitate the return and readmission of those who do not qualify for refugee status.

[We reaffirm the primary goal of bringing about conditions that would help refugees return in safety and dignity to their countries and emphasize the need to tackle the root causes of violence and armed conflict and to achieve necessary political solutions and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as to assist in reconstruction efforts. In this context, States of origin/nationality would:] Respect this right and also respect the obligation to receive back their nationals, which should occur in a safe, dignified and humane manner and with full respect for human rights in accordance with obligations under international law;

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] Combating racism, xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance towards all migrants;

[The global compact could include, but would not be limited to, the following elements:] Cooperation at the national, regional and international levels on all aspects of migration.

As the Third High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development is to be held in New York no later than 2019, a role should be envisaged for the High-level Dialogue in the process.

Civil society, the private sector, diaspora communities and migrant organizations would be invited to contribute to the process for the preparation of the global compact.

We will work towards the adoption in 2018 of a global compact on refugees, based on the comprehensive refugee response framework and on the outcomes of the process described above. We invite the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to include such a proposed global compact on refugees in his annual report to the General Assembly in 2018, for consideration by the Assembly at its seventy-third session in conjunction with its annual resolution on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.