MEDIA RELEASE
Asia-Pacific GCM Champion Countries Agree on Two Joint Regional Pledges Ahead of IMRF 2026
On Monday, 23rd March 2026, the Government of Fiji hosted a Preparatory Meeting of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) Champion Countries in Asia and the Pacific, advancing regional cooperation and joint commitments ahead of the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), to be held in New York from 4th to the 8th of May 2026.
The virtual session was chaired by Fiji’s Minister for Immigration, the Honourable H.E. Viliame Naupoto, in his capacity as Chair of the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Review of the GCM. Coordination support was provided by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the Asia Pacific UN Network on Migration.
All ten (10) GCM Champion Countries from Asia and the Pacific participated: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Türkiye.
The Champion Countries reaffirmed shared priorities from the Second Asia Pacific Regional Review of the GCM, including climate-responsive mobility; fair and ethical labour migration; protection of migrants in vulnerable situations; expanded regular pathways; stronger migration data and governance; and maximising the benefits of migration for development.
A key outcome was agreement to advance two joint regional pledges for presentation at IMRF 2026, subject to further national consultations: (1) the Asia Pacific Regional Pledge on Climate Mobility and (2) the Asia Pacific Regional Pledge on Safe, Dignified and Sustainable Return and Reintegration. Both pledges promote rights-based, gender-responsive and child-sensitive approaches.
The Chair emphasised collective leadership: “This meeting was about translating shared commitments into practical regional action. The joint pledges reflect Asia-Pacific’s solidarity and our determination to address migration challenges together.”
In her opening remarks, Ms Amy Muedin, Deputy Head of the UN Network on Migration Secretariat, described IMRF 2026 as a pivotal moment for action and urged Champion Countries to lead inclusive reviews and announce tangible pledges.
In a prerecorded message, Ms Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the UN ESCAP Executive Secretary, reiterated ESCAP’s commitment to supporting Member States, underscoring the Asia-Pacific region’s role in global migration cooperation and the importance of aligning migration governance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The meeting closed with commitments to ensure high-level representation at IMRF 2026, advance Voluntary National Reviews, and sustain regional coordination to deliver a coherent, practical Asia-Pacific contribution to the global review of the GCM.
Learn more about the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026) and the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) Champion Countries initiative.
