Dr Bilesha Weeraratne participates in the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Review of the Global Compact for Migration

4 – 6 February 2025

IPS Research Fellow and Head of Migration and Urbanisation Policy Research, Dr Bilesha Weeraratne attended the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Network on Migration, held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok from 4 to 6 February 2025. The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) was invited to this regional review as an Observer Institute, while Dr Bilesha Weeraratne represented the IPS.

The objective of the Regional Review included taking stock of progress made in the Asia-Pacific region with regard to the implementation of the 23 objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) and identifying key challenges, opportunities, gaps, and emerging issues, as well as promising practices and lessons learned, related to the implementation of the GCM in Asia and the Pacific. The regional forum also aimed to discuss regional priorities and potential areas for cooperation on international migration in line with the vision and guiding principles of the GCM; to compile information on the resource, capacity-building, policy advice, data gathering, technology, and partnerships that are required for the full implementation of the GCM at the national and regional levels and to facilitate the formulation of key findings and recommendations to inform the 2026 International Migration Review Forum.

Dr Weeraratne also attended the Stakeholder Consultation of the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration on the 3rd February 2025 which brought over 150 stakeholders who have been engaged in the GCM processes. The stakeholder consultation aimed to make the 2nd Regional Review of the GCM uphold migrants’ rights in the region. The Stakeholder Consultation was organised by the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG).