{"id":293320,"date":"2026-05-07T10:35:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T14:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/80\/?p=293320"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:35:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T14:35:23","slug":"pga-remarks-at-the-opening-of-the-2nd-international-migration-review-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/80\/2026\/05\/07\/pga-remarks-at-the-opening-of-the-2nd-international-migration-review-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"PGA Remarks at the Opening of the 2nd International Migration Review Forum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Remarks by H.E. Annalena Baerbock<\/strong><\/p>\n

President of the 80th<\/sup> Session of the United Nations General Assembly<\/strong><\/p>\n

at <\/strong>the Opening of <\/strong>the 2nd<\/sup> International Migration Review Forum <\/strong><\/p>\n

Thursday, 7 May 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

General Assembly Hall, United Nations<\/strong><\/p>\n

[As Delivered]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr. Secretary-General,<\/p>\n

Madam Director-General of the IOM,<\/p>\n

Distinguished representatives of migrant communities and civil society,<\/p>\n

Excellencies,<\/p>\n

Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Listening to debates in many parts of the world, migration is often treated as a new phenomenon one that is heavily politicized, focusing on irregular movements, pressure on borders, or overstretched social welfare systems.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Indeed, these concerns are real, shaped by increasing conflicts, climate impacts, demographic shifts, and inequality\u2014and we have to address them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yet, we all know, there is a much wider picture.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Migration is inherently human, and takes many, many different forms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For thousands of years, people have moved\u2014to learn, to work, to reunite with family, or to simply pursue opportunities beyond the horizons into which they were born.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For decades, demographic change has also meant that many industrialized and high-income countries have relied on migration, especially in regard to their healthcare, elderly, or service sectors.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, migration is an inevitable human reality.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The question is not whether migration is good or bad\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The question is whether we manage it well, and manage it together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As every country today is either a country of origin, transit, or destination– and most times even all three at once. No state can manage migration alone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It requires cooperation, it requires international regulation…<\/p>\n

And that is precisely the purpose of the Global Compact.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is precisely the purpose of multilateralism.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Despite heavy headwinds, we, you, the Member States jointly adopted it 8 years ago, in every state\u2019s own self-interest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Global Compact provides a common framework, grounded in international law and human rights, while fully respecting national sovereignty.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since the first International Migration Review Forum in 2022, we have seen meaningful progress.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Engagement has deepened. Cooperation has expanded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But much more remains to be done in order to realize its full potential and make migration a triple win.<\/p>\n