Our work creates a collaborative space for civil society organizations, UN Member States, and various UN entities to engage in meaningful actions that support migrants and refugees in mixed migration. We foster partnerships and conversations that center migrant voices, enabling them to co-create solutions with governments. Through monthly programs featuring panels with representatives from civil society, UN Member States, agencies like UNHCR and IOM, and other stakeholders, we provide a platform for diverse perspectives. Our efforts also contribute to policy papers and thematic documents, such as those prepared for the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Mixed Migration Subcommittee Priorities
- Advocating for regular migration pathways and opportunities for regularization;
- Addressing the root causes of migration;
- Protecting migrants at borders;
- Upholding the rights of migrant workers, including the right to work and access to services.
What is Mixed Migration?
Mixed migration refers to “cross-border movements of people, including refugees fleeing persecution and conflict, victims of trafficking and people seeking better lives and opportunities.” Motivated to move by multiple factors, people engaged in mixed migration have different legal statuses and face a variety of vulnerable situations. Although entitled to protection under international human rights law, they may often be exposed to multiple rights violations along their journey. Moreover, refugees and migrants travel along similar routes, using similar means of travel – often traveling irregularly.
Goals
Our advocacy goals focus on the full implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), aiming to establish strong systems for consistent assistance to migrants, refugees in mixed migration, and internally displaced persons including children, and those vulnerable to torture, trafficking, gender-based violence, or other trauma. We advocate for, legally compliant solutions and work to address the root causes of forced migration—such as conflict, inequality, discrimination, and poor governance. Key priorities include creating regular migration pathways and opportunities for regularization, protecting migrants at borders, upholding the rights of migrant workers, and ensuring access to services regardless of their legal status. We support social and economic integration in host countries, and family reunification efforts to promote stability and dignity for all migrants.
Pathways to achieve goals
To achieve our advocacy goals, we prioritize conducting mission visits with member states at the UN and inviting them to our monthly meetings. Our team stays informed with concise summaries on advocacy priorities and prepares talking points that highlight the positive contributions of migrants in mixed migration, while also recognizing the initial challenges that these influxes can present to host countries. We review the priority activities of other subcommittees to foster collaboration and engage directly with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, and their organizations, supporting their participation in UN processes at the global and regional levels. Our work also includes creating advocacy papers that explain the complexities of mixed migration. We strive to share not only the stories of those caught up in mixed migration and to facilitate that they speak for themselves telling the stories of their journeys, which is the best advocacy of all.