Opening of the multi-stakeholder hearing

Opening remarks by the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák

Remarks by Ms. Louise Arbour, Secretary-General of the intergovernmental conference to adopt the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration

Panel 1: From fiction to fact: the case for quality data

The panel will focus on the importance of quality and disaggregated data.  This includes looking at the common misperceptions around migration including the use of facts and how migration is being portrayed.

Guiding questions:

• What is the role of data in the migration debate? What can stakeholders do to improve the availability of data on migration?
• How to address data collection in the Global Compact?

Panellists:

• Mr. Phillip Connor, Senior Researcher, Pew Research Center
• Ms Fabienne Venet Rebiffé, Directora General, Instituto de Estudios y Divulgación sobre Migración A.C.
• Ms Kadri Soova, Advocacy Officer (Migration), Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)

Moderator: Mr. Bela Hovy, Chief, Migration Section, UN DESA

Panel 2: The challenge of inaccurate narratives about migration

The panel will focus on the role of media and the need to work in partnership to encourage an evidence-based debate about migration. The discussion will consider practical ways the media can contribute to shaping the debate around migration. Discussion will include ideas on how stakeholders can cooperate to avoid misinformation.

Guiding questions:

• What is the role of media in shaping public narratives around migration?
• What can stakeholders do to avoid the circulation of misinformation?

Panellists:

• Mr. Bill Orme, Adviser, Ethical Journalism Network (EJN)
• Ms Tendayi Achiume, Assistant Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law and Special Rapporteur on racism, xenophobia and related intolerance
• Ms Monami Maulik, Coordinator, Global Coalition on Migration

Moderator: Ms. Michele Klein-Solomon, Director – Global Compact for Migration, IOM

Lunch break

Panel III: Combatting xenophobia and stereotypes with evidence-based narratives

The panel will focus on the role of public officials and civil society in combatting racism, xenophobia and stereotypes. It will discuss the need for evidence-based narratives around migration and the importance of ensuring that migrants’ voices are included in policymaking.

Guiding questions:

• What are some of the best practices to combat racism and xenophobia against migrants?
• How can better data support this goal?

Panellists

• Ms Catherine Tactaquin, Executive Director, National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
• Mr. Joshua Bennett, Executive Vice President, Show of Force
• Mr. Ahmed Toumi, Member of Parliament, Morocco

Moderator: Ms. Liling Tan, Feature Story News, China Global TV Network, UN Correspondents Association

Panel IV: Follow-up and review of the Global Compact 

 This session will provide an opportunity to discuss ideas for the follow-up and implementation of the Global Compact

 Panellists:

• Mr. William Gois, Regional Coordinator, Migrant Forum in Asia
• Mr. Sergei Markov, Director of Prince Michael of Kent Charitable Foundation
• Mr. Austin Fragomen, Chairman, Business Mechanism of the GFMD

 Moderator: Mr. David Donoghue, Distinguished Fellow, Overseas Development Institute (ODI)

Closing of the the multi-stakeholder hearing

Concluding remarks by H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, and H.E. Mr. Juan José Gómez Camacho, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations, co-facilitators of the intergovernmental consultations and negotiations on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

Closing of the multi-stakeholder hearing by the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák