11/08/2017 - The Royal Thai Government, with support from the UN Migration Agency (IOM), today (11/8) opened the first of four stakeholder dialogues as part of a national consultation process to prepare for future negotiations on the Global Compact to Promote Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

The Compact, which was announced at the United Nations in September 2016 as part of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, is expected to be finalized and adopted by UN Member States at an intergovernmental conference in late 2018.

The first stakeholder dialogue in Mae Sot, close the Myanmar border, is being attended by over 50 delegates from the central, provincial, and district government, NGOs and academia. It focuses on the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and international cooperation to combat the problem.

Three more dialogues between now and November in Ranong, Samut Sakhon and Bangkok will focus on migrant rights and the recognition of migrant work.

Thailand is among the first countries worldwide to carry out national consultations ahead of the Compact negotiations. The outcomes are expected to clarify and shape Thailand’s priorities at a regional preparatory meeting in Bangkok in November.

The consultation process is being led by the by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). IOM is providing technical support.

MFA Deputy Director-General Supart Prongthura, who heads the International Organizations Department, reaffirmed the Thai government’s commitment towards effective and inclusive migration management. He identified collaboration between national government agencies, societal actors, and the international community as a key factor to be taken into account during negotiations on the Compact.

IOM Thailand Chief of Mission Dana Graber Ladek welcomed the inclusive and transparent nature of the consultations. “With an estimated migrant population of five million, Thailand faces a diverse range of migration challenges. The dialogues constitute an important platform to promote policy dialogue, cooperation and partnership on migration issues among key stakeholders,” she said.

For more information, please contact please contact IOM Thailand: Dana Graber Ladek, Email: dgraber@iom.int, Tel: +66 2 343 9301, Reuben Lim, Email: rlim@iom.int, Tel: +66 2 343 9370.