What It Is
Formally the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the GCM was adopted by 152 states at an intergovernmental conference in Marrakech (December 2018) and endorsed by the with 152 votes for, 5 against (US, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Israel), and 12 abstentions.
The Compact is legally non-binding but provides a comprehensive of 23 objectives addressing:
- Migration drivers: addressing root causes including conflict, poverty, climate change.
- Regular pathways: expanding legal migration channels.
- Border governance: rights-respecting border management.
- Return and reintegration: dignified return procedures.
- Migrant rights: protection regardless of migration status.
- Anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling.
- Data and information sharing.
- International cooperation.
Implementation Framework
The IOM-led coordinates implementation, bringing 38 UN entities together. The Network functions as the cross-UN-system mechanism for cohesive migration-related action.
The first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) was held in May 2022; the second in 2026. The IMRF is the quadrennial review mechanism where governments report on GCM implementation and where new commitments are pledged.
The Compact's Principal Contribution
The Compact's principal contribution is normative: establishing migration as a shared global responsibility rather than a sovereign-state-only matter. Before the GCM, international was fragmented across many institutions; the Compact provided the first comprehensive framework articulated through intergovernmental negotiation.
The normative framework does not bind states but provides a reference point for , civil-society engagement, and inter-state cooperation.
US Withdrawal and Re-engagement
The US withdrew under Trump in 2017 — the Trump administration was the first government to reject the GCM, on the grounds that it would constrain US over immigration. Several European right-leaning governments followed: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, plus Israel, Australia, and a handful of others all voted against or abstained.
The US rejoined under Biden in 2021. The rejoining was a symbolic return to multilateral migration cooperation. Whether the US will maintain its participation through subsequent administrations is uncertain.
Why It Matters
The GCM matters because:
- It articulates a comprehensive migration framework: the first such framework at intergovernmental level.
- It creates a coordination mechanism: the UN Network on Migration provides UN-system coherence.
- It establishes review mechanisms: the IMRF creates accountability for implementation.
- It normalizes migration as a shared responsibility: shifting the political framing away from purely sovereign control.
- It supports civil-society advocacy: providing reference standards that NGOs can use to advocate for migrant rights.
Critiques
The GCM has faced critiques:
- Non-binding nature: states can opt out of any specific commitment without penalty.
- Limited migrant-rights provisions: critics argue the Compact's rights protections are weaker than those in existing human-rights treaties.
- Selective implementation: states implement parts they prefer and ignore others.
- Sovereignty concerns from skeptical states: even though formally non-binding, some governments fear normative pressure.
Common Misconceptions
The GCM is sometimes treated as creating new legal obligations for states. It does not — it is explicitly non-binding and reaffirms states' sovereign authority over migration.
Another misconception is that the GCM covers refugees. It does not — refugees are covered by the parallel .
Real-World Examples
The December 2018 Marrakech Conference adopting the GCM was the founding moment. The May 2022 first IMRF produced the Progress Declaration. The 2026 second IMRF will be the substantive assessment of GCM implementation across the first seven years.
Example
The first International Migration Review Forum (May 2022) produced a Progress Declaration identifying access to identity documents and labor pathways as priority implementation areas.