UN Photo/Loey Felipe A wide view of the General Assembly. (file photo) Morocco on Thursday called for stronger international cooperation and solidarity-based governance on migration during the plenary session of the second International Migration Review Forum held at the United Nations from May 5 to 8.
Speaking on behalf of the Kingdom, Ismail Chekkori urged participating countries to reinforce their commitment to the 23 objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, also known as the Marrakech Compact.
Chekkori recalled a message delivered by His Majesty King Mohammed VI during the adoption conference of the Marrakech Compact in 2018, in which the monarch stressed that the agreement would only have meaning through effective implementation.
According to the Moroccan official, the Kingdom has continued to play an active role in implementing the pact’s objectives in line with royal directives, notably through what he described as a policy of “leadership by example” and the sharing of best practices on migration governance.
Chekkori highlighted Morocco’s role within the Champion Countries Network on Migration, which the Kingdom chaired in 2023, and said the current review forum represents an opportunity for Morocco to present its achievements and future commitments ahead of the next review cycle of the compact.
He pointed to several measures adopted by Morocco, including the humanized management of borders, improved migrant access to healthcare, education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities, as well as efforts to develop migration-related data and promote a positive narrative around migration as a driver of development.
According to Chekkori, these efforts have resulted in more than 100 recognized best practices in migration governance, acknowledged by international organizations and institutions working on migration issues.
The Moroccan official also stressed that no national migration policy can succeed without regional and international coordination, noting that Morocco’s approach aligns with the African Agenda on Migration led by King Mohammed VI in his role as the African Union’s leader on migration issues.
He concluded by calling for a stronger international consensus on migration governance centered on solidarity and the protection of migrants’ rights and communities.