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<p>The UK Government is supportive of the United Nations’ Global Compact for Safe,
Orderly and Regular Migration, both as a step forward in international co-operation
to tackle irregular migration and as a framework to help us deliver our commitments
under the Sustainable Development Goals. The Secretary of State announced the UK’s
support for the Migration Compact at the United Nations General Assembly in September
2018, and Minister Burt attended the intergovernmental launch event in Marrakesh in
December 2018.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK voted in favour of the UN General
Assembly Resolution to adopt the Compact on 19<sup>th</sup> December 2018 and issued
an Explanation of Vote to set on the record its interpretation of the text. A summary
of the Explanation can be found on the UN website at: <a href="https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/ga12113.doc.htm"
target="_blank">https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/ga12113.doc.htm</a></p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>Well-managed migration is in everyone’s interests. But uncontrolled
migration erodes public confidence, damages economies, and places people on the move
in situations of great vulnerability. The UK is taking significant steps to tackle
uncontrolled migration both in our domestic policy work and in our ODA-funded programmes
by:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Addressing factors that may force people to
migrate irregularly, through our targeted assistance for livelihoods, healthcare,
and education and driving economic development;</li><li>Tackling modern slavery and
organised immigration crime;</li><li>Supporting enhanced border management;</li><li>Providing
critical humanitarian support and protection for vulnerable migrants, as well as offering
voluntary return and vital reintegration support to those wishing to return home;
and</li><li>Supporting refugees to stay in a first safe country through our humanitarian
and development work in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>The Global Compact for Migration supports delivery of these efforts within
the international system and enhances cooperation between states without affecting
the sovereignty of all countries to control their own borders. The Compact will not
in any way create legal obligations for States, nor does it seek to establish international
customary law or further interpret existing treaties or national obligations. It does
not establish a ‘human right to migrate’ or create any new legal categories of migrant.
The GCM emphasises that migrants are entitled to the same universal human rights as
any human being and does not create any new ‘rights’ for migrants.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>The Compact commits to protecting freedom of expression for the press
and public. The freedom of the media to debate all issues of importance to society,
including the issue of migration in all its aspects, is fundamental to a liberal society
and the UK Government attaches the highest importance to this.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>It also includes proposals which will help the UK make a strong contribution
to the delivery of the global Sustainable Development Goals. This includes those relating
to orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people; and those
intended to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking, and child
labour.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The final draft of the Compact is available
online at:</p><p> </p><p><a target="_blank">https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/sites/default/files/180711_final_draft_0.pdf</a></p>
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