IOM at the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly

The 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) presents an opportunity to place migration at the heart of global discussions towards a future grounded in sustainable development. 

Under the theme of "Unity in diversity, for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for everyone everywhere", UNGA 79 opens on10th September with a High-level week that runs from 20th of September to 28 of September and 30th September 2024, reflecting the crucial need of migration as a solution.  

Heads of State and Government will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges at the Summit of the Future, to advance peace, security, and sustainable development. World leaders are expected to adopt the Pact for the Future, with a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration for Future Generations, 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will be at UNGA 79 to engage with partners to find innovative ways of how human mobility can contribute to peace, sustainable development, and dignity for all. 
 
While looking for solutions to the world’s major challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, impacts of ongoing conflicts and global health crises, migrants cannot be left behind. By expanding safe, regular, and orderly migration pathways, we can drive inclusive growth, fill labor gaps, and support sustainable development that benefits everyone. 

As we continue to work within global frameworks like the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Compact for Migration, IOM calls for greater international cooperation to ensure migration is well-managed and that the rights of migrants are protected.

22 September 2024 | High-Level Roundtable on Climate, Peace and Human Mobility   

Time: 13.15 – 14.30 (EDT)
Venue: Room 11, UN Headquarters, New York, USA

IOM Speaker: Amy Pope, IOM Director General, will provide the opening remarks.
Co-organizers: COP29 Presidency, IOM

The high-level roundtable organized by the COP29 Presidency and IOM will explore the growing impact of climate change on displacement and conflict. 

The discussion will bring together global leaders, UN agencies, and experts to discuss solutions to address the Climate-Security Nexus and drive innovative policies to build resilience in the most vulnerable regions. 

23 September 2024 | Ending Violence, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Time: 08.00 – 09.30 (EDT)
Venue: Speakeasy Room, Lexington Hotel, New York, USA

IOM Speaker: Amy Pope, IOM Director General
Co-organizers: Democratic Republic of the Congo, IOM, UNICEF, Save the Children 
Co-hosts (TBC): Angola, Brazil, Belgium, China, European Union, France, Germany, Sweden, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is critical to global biodiversity and the green transition but faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, especially in the East. Conflict, displacement, food insecurity, gender-based violence, and a severe Mpox outbreak are escalating, disproportionately affecting women and children. Over 61,000 cases of gender-based violence were reported in early 2024, with ongoing violence risking regional spillover. International action is needed to prevent further deterioration and support peacebuilding efforts.

The international community must support long-term political solutions and enforce accountability for legal violations in the DRC. Diplomatic efforts are needed to strengthen peace processes. Although a truce has reduced violence, it has been violated, making a lasting peaceful settlement critical to protect civilians and ensure aid delivery.

23 September 2024 | EU High-level Segment on “Leading the Way Forward: Managing Migration Globally”

Time: 12.00 – 13.30 (EDT)
Venue: EU Delegation, New York, USA

Speaker: Amy Pope, IOM Director General, will speak on the panel.
Organizers and Sponsors: Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees; Amy Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration; Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The event is organized in the margins of the UNGA79 High-level Week to draw political attention to the issues of migration and forced displacement, offering the opportunity to leaders on migration and refugees to reflect on trends, achievements of the past years, key challenges and solutions to move forward, leveraging the strengths of both the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) and the Call to Action on a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling launched by the European Union in November 2023.

Starting from the premise that migration is normal, will always exist and needs to be managed together through a comprehensive approach to the benefit of all, the side event aims at discussing:

• How the EU, partner countries and international organizations can join forces to better manage migration globally, including by strengthening rights-based migration and asylum management systems and partnerships; 
• How to promote legal pathways for migrants and refugees, improve the conditions for their integration and inclusion and their working conditions; 
• How to enhance sustainable solutions for refugees and more equitable responsibility- and burden-sharing; 
• How to develop a route-based approach to addressing irregular migration challenges, while supporting countries and ensuring respect for the rights of refugees, migrants and victims of trafficking along the route; 
• How to combat the organized crime groups engaging in the smuggling of migrants and in trafficking in human beings, including through working more efficiently on illicit financial flows and digital smuggling. 
   

23 September 2024 | Migration in the Americas and the Opportunities for City-Led Solutions

Time: 16.30 – 18.30 (EDT)
Venue: Westin Grand Central Ballroom New York, USA

IOM Speaker: Amy Pope, IOM Director General, will provide the opening remarks.
Co-organizers: IOM, Emerson Collective, Mayors Migration Council (MMC), Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF); sponsored by Silicon Valley Community Foundation.     

The event aims to be a strategic discussion among mayors and political leaders on Migration in the Americas and the Opportunities for City-Led Solutions on the margins of the UN Summit of the Future on 23 September 2024, in New York City.  

This discussion will contribute to a new Mayors of the Americas Task Force on Migration, which aims to advance a political vision and action agenda on migration cooperation, to offer a platform and visibility for mayors as regional and global leaders, and to explore potential city partnerships and projects to demonstrate city leadership in action and drive momentum.  

The event will also represent an opportunity to promote local engagement and continue strengthen the regional dialogue about regular pathways as well as share best practices on migration, enhance cooperation, and foster greater innovation at a time when well-intentioned national leaders are struggling to implement collaborative migration management strategies. This collaboration by cities across the hemisphere will also serve to fortify commitments to common-sense, national-level solutions.

24 September 2024 | Launch of the Climate Mobility Innovation Lab

Time: 17.00 – 19.00 (EDT)
Venue: IOM Office, New York, USA

Speakers: Amy Pope, IOM Director General; Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations; Rania Sharshr, Director, IOM Climate Action Division; Prof. Hesham El Askary 
Organizer: IOM

IOM is launching the Climate Mobility Innovation Lab (CMIL), a key driver of innovation, capacity strengthening and collaboration. With a strong emphasis on scalable innovative solutions, community engagement, and strategic partnerships, the CMIL empowers resilient communities to adapt to climate change impacts and address challenges of migration, displacement, and human mobility.  

The establishment of the CMIL represents a significant step forward, enabling the development of sustainable and resilient communities in Asia, Africa, and beyond. 
 

25 September 2024 | Monitoring Progress Towards Solutions to Internal Displacement 

Time:  12.00 – 14.00 EDT
Venue: Conference Room 2300, UNDP Headquarters DC1, New York, USA

IOM Speakers: Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, will provide the opening remarks.
Moderator: Koko Warner, PhD, Director, IOM Global Data Institute 
Participation: Representatives of Member States, from Permanent Missions or members of visiting delegations to UNGA

Register here  

This high-level consultation of Member States at the margins of UNGA 79 will convene representatives of Member States, from Permanent Missions or members of visiting delegations to the UN General Assembly. It will serve to present and discuss the latest data and analysis on solutions to internal displacement and a wider joint approach of IOM and UNDP to bring coherence to the broader work on data for solutions to internal displacement.

In 2023, IOM, in partnership with Georgetown University, successfully launched its flagship annual publication of the Periodic Global Report on the State of Solutions to Internal Displacement (PROGRESS) providing analysis of solutions to internal displacement in 15 countries. The work on the second edition of the report, PROGRESS 2024, is ongoing and will be finalized in autumn 2024. PROGRESS 2024 will include analysis of datasets from over 30 countries with various internal displacement contexts and aims to inform the current strategic policy and operational discourse on solutions to internal displacement. In line with the key recommendations of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement and the subsequent Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, the event will also highlight the joint efforts of IOM and UNDP to support governments and partners with strengthened data on solutions to internal displacement to inform collective action.
 

26 September 2024 | Advancing the Environment, Peace and Security Agenda at the Summit of the Future and Beyond

Time: 11.15 – 12.45 (EDT)
Venue: Conference Room, UN Office of the Baha'i International Community, New York, USA

IOM Speaker: Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations
Organizers: The Global Challenges Foundation, Slovenia, Colombia, and IOM

On the margins of the Summit of the Future Action Days, the Governments of Colombia, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, in partnership with IOM, PAX, the Baha’i International Community, and the Global Challenges Foundation (GCF), aim to gather high-level representatives of governments, international organizations, and civil society to discuss potential pathways for the establishment and operationalization of the Environment, Peace and Security (EPS) agenda within the UN system beyond the Pact for the Future negotiations.

Event participants will reflect on the current “state of play” for practitioners and policymakers, including within the UN system and throughout the negotiations at the Summit of the Future and beyond, identifying existing gaps in current prevention, mitigation, and response measures. They will explore opportunities for better mainstreaming and coordination across the UN system to deal with environmental impacts and climate risks in conflict-affected and at-risk settings. The discussions at this high-level event will serve as a basis for the development of concrete recommendations at the expert level in a report following the event in the aftermath of the Summit of the Future.