New York, 8 July – As the High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF) convenes today in New York, the International Organization for Migration (IOM's) Director General - in her capacity as Coordinator of the UN Network on Migration - calls for stronger recognition of the crucial role migration plays in benefiting all communities.

“The world is experiencing an unprecedented set of complex and converging challenges – conflict, climate change, demographic change and economic downturn, to name just a few,” said Amy Pope, IOM Director General, addressing Member States as Coordinator of the UN Network on Migration, on the opening day of the 2024 HLPF. “It is important to recognise that migration – and migrants – are at the centre of these challenges, and that they provide a key to resilient communities, stronger economies and durable solutions.” 

An analysis report on the implementation of the five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review this year at the HLPF highlights that migration is a multi-faceted reality contributing significantly to human development and global prosperity. These findings emphasize the need to integrate migration more deeply into the development agenda.

The analysis reveals that removing mobility restrictions could boost world GDP by 11.5 to 12.5 percent. Nearly half of remittances to developing countries go to rural areas, home to 75 percent of the world's poor and food-insecure populations. Furthermore, diasporas contribute to the green transition through skills transfer and innovation. Migrant participation in policy consultation strengthens integration, while multi-stakeholder partnerships connect policy areas influencing migration dynamics.

Through the UN Network on Migration, the UN system has made strides in aligning the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the 2030 Agenda, working with governments, UN country teams and stakeholders to embed migration in development planning.

IOM will engage throughout the HLPF, with participation in multiple sessions, special events and side events, including one organized with the World Bank and the International Organisation of Employers titled: “Delivering on the Promise of Migration for the Green Transition: Leveraging labour pathways to boost green skills, jobs and economies.”

Note to Editors:

The HLPF is the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals at the global level. 

The Five sustainable development goals under review this year are on Ending Poverty (SDG 1), Ending Hunger (SDG 2), Climate Action (SDG 13), Peace Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) and Partnerships (SDG 17)

Since 2020, and with the support of its partners, IOM has invested through its programming across the globe over USD 10.5 billion in support of safe, orderly and regular migration and the achievement of the SDGs. This investment has spanned across all the 17 SDGs and advanced 127 individual SDG targets.

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