QUNO is proud to announce that the latest version of our annual review is now available online! This is a great opportunity to read and learn more about the work of our New York and Geneva offices during this past year, and to learn about the work ahead.
QUNO-Annual-Review-2024.pdf 7.04 MB The new FES publication offers a civil society perspective on how we can raise ambition for the IMRF to deliver for migrants.
The initial International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) took place in May 2022 during the General Assembly in New York, aiming to assess the progress of the 2018 Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). In this interim period between IMRF sessions, authors Kate Sheill and Laurel Townhead reflect on the inaugural event from a civil society standpoint, documenting the formal processes leading up to the forum. The publication serves as a contribution to institutional memory and seeks to provide insights for future IMRF engagements. The review delves into the established constraints and emerging challenges faced during the 2022 IMRF, examining how they influenced efforts to enhance civil society involvement. Specifically, it contemplates the global follow-up and review process's potential.
While acknowledging certain successes of the inaugural IMRF, the paper contends that greater ambition is necessary, both for the forum itself and the implementation of the GCM, to effectively benefit migrants. It suggests viewing the IMRF not merely as a quadrennial, four-day event but reimagining it as an integral part of the broader UN architecture for migration governance and migrant rights. This approach aims to foster coherence across all relevant UN processes and entities, as well as to expand and deepen engagement from diverse stakeholder groups. Only through this comprehensive perspective can we hope to realize the ambition and effectively serve the needs of migrants.
Viewing the Global Compact for Migration as a useful tool for human rights-based migration governance, QUNO works with States, the UN, civil society and migrants themselves to ensure its ambitious, effective, and human rights-based implementation. QUNO believes that a multistakeholder, collaborative approach that incorporates lived experiences and expertise is vital for this process, to support this QUNO is publishing a short, practical guide for migrants and other stakeholders to engage with the upcoming Regional Reviews.
This guide is designed to simplify and enhance the accessibility of the Regional Reviews in an effort to promote engagement from all stakeholders, particularly migrants themselves. QUNO explains why engaging with the process is important and avenues of engagement with ideas for action, while also providing logistical information and useful resources.
This paper serves as a call to action for all stakeholders involved in the GCM Regional Reviews, urging them to enhance meaningful participation of migrants. While the aim is to amplify representation, the document emphasizes the inherent diversity among migrants, highlighting that no single entity can universally articulate the experiences of such a varied group. The paper encourages intentional engagement with migrants associated with organized groups and networks, recognizing their potential to contribute collaboratively to policy development and advocacy efforts.
As part of our work to end lethal disregard for people on the move, the Human Rights and Refugees Programme has collaborated to draft a joint letter calling on the Human Rights Council to undertake a global investigation into deaths, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave human rights violations faced by people in transit across international borders. Joined by 228 organizations (by 25 June), the letter highlights the global pattern of deaths and grave human rights violations in transit. The letter notes the interconnection of racism and human rights violations in transit. We believe that this additional mechanism is needed to complement the work of the Special Rapporteur on human rights of migrants, to sustain attention on this pressing issue, hear from migrants and their family members and engage political will to end the dehumanization of migrants.
Organizations and groups can add their support for the letter here: https://forms.gle/8JkUwy2i9u7GRiXG7
EN –Joint Letter Calling for Mechanism on HR violations at borders - English - signatories 25 June.pdf 119.43 KB FR – Joint Letter Calling for Mechanism on HR violations at borders - French - signatories 25 June.pdf 121.2 KB ES – Joint Letter Calling for Mechanism on HR violations at borders - Spanish - signatories 25 June.pdf 121.39 KB 2023 is an opportunity for us to celebrate 75 years of Quaker peace and justice work at the UN. Read our newest QUNO Review to learn more about the work of our New York and Geneva offices during this past year, and to learn about the work ahead.
QUNO Review 2023.pdf 5.77 MB As we work towards an ambitious, effective, and human rights-based discussion and outcome at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), we are producing a series of short papers to support steps towards migration justice through delivering on the promise of people-centered migration governance contained in the Global Compact of Migration.
The briefing paper on this page covers the outcomes of the 2022 IMRF and how to use them for migration justice.
QUNO thanks the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation (FES) for their support with translations and design.
Using the Outcomes of the IMRF for Migration Justice.pdf 201.09 KB Utilización de los resultados del Foro de Examen para la justicia migratoria.pdf 111.22 KB Utiliser les résultats du Forum d'examen des migrations internationales.pdf 79.18 KB In October 2022, QUNO joined representatives from the Friends World Committee for Consultation, Friends Committee on National Legislation, American Friends Service Committee, Canadian Friends Service Committee, the Quaker Council on European Affairs and Quaker Peace and Social Witness in releasing this statement on the Peace Testimony and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
QUNO's September 2022 issue of the Geneva Reporter newsletter is available below. This issue includes a welcome letter from our Director Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge and reporting on the International Migration Review Forum from the Human Rights & Refugees team. It also includes updates from our Peace and Disarmament (P&D), Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC) and Sustainable and Just Economic Systems (SJES) programmes.
Following weeks of speculation and intelligence reports, the Russian government initiated new military operations in Ukraine beginning on 24 February. This military attack has had immediate far-reaching impacts, sparked a massive humanitarian crisis, and raised serious concern about potential ecological damage. On the global stage, a range of actions have been taken in response, including measures within the United Nations (UN). This document provides brief details on the response by specific UN bodies thus far and does not include information on all actions taken by UN entities or individual Member States. A letter by the Directors of QUNO’s Geneva and New York offices accompanied the release of this document and can be read here.
UN Overview_Ukraine.pdf 145.55 KB Our newest QUNO Review provides a brief introduction to QUNO and our ways of working, as well as an overview of our areas of work. Learn more about our past year of work, as well as our work ahead in the coming year.
Program Review 2022.pdf 1.2 MB As we work towards an ambitious, effective and human rights-based discussion and outcome at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) we are producing a series of short papers to support steps towards migration justice through delivering on the promise of people-centered migration governance contained in the Global Compact of Migration.
The papers on this page cover the following: :
QUNO thanks the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation for their support with translations and design for this series.
Meaningful Participation: Centring Migrant Expertise and Experience 141.48 KB Une participation significative: centrer l'expertise et l'experience des migrants 97.85 KB Participacion Significativa : Apuntar a la experencia y conocimientos de los migrantes 91.13 KB Dismantling systemic racism in migration governance 318.56 KB Desmontando el racismo sistémico en la gobernanza de la migración 756.42 KB Démantèlement du racisme systémique dans la gouvernance des migrations 772.58 KB Migrants in Vulnerable Situations as a Result of Migration Policies and Practices 110.45 KB Migrantes en situación de vulnerabilidad como consecuencia de las políticas y prácticas migratorias 723.3 KB Migrants en situation de vulnérabilité en raison de politiques et pratiques en matière de migration 695.69 KB As we work towards an ambitious, effective and human rights-based discussion and outcome at the International Migration Review Forum we are producing a series of short papers to support steps towards migration justice through delivering on the promise of people-centered migration governance contained in the Global Compact of Migration.
The papers on this page cover the following:
For thematic papers with policy recommendations, please see here.
QUNO thanks the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation for their support with translations and design for this series.
What is the International Migration Review Forum? 125.2 KB Qu'est-ce que le Forum d’examen des migrations internationales (IMRF) ? 129.01 KB ¿Qué es el Foro de Examen de la Migración Internacional? 124.91 KB Why does the International Migration Review Forum matter for migration justice? 121.69 KB Pourquoi le Forum d'examen des migrations internationales est-il important pour la justice en matière de migration ? 539.55 KB ¿Por qué es importante el Foro Internacional de Revisión de la Migración para la justicia migratoria? 538.47 KB Using the International Migration Review Forum to further Migration Justice: Key Points on the Roadmap 221.15 KB Utilización del Foro Internacional de Revisión de la Migración para promover la justicia migratoria: Puntos clave de la hoja 215.25 KB Utiliser le Forum d'examen des migrations internationales pour une plus grande justice en matière de migration : points clés d 218.19 KB QUNO's December 2021 issue of the Geneva Reporter newsletter is available below. This issue includes reflections and updates from QUNO staff who attended COP 26 in Glasgow on November 2021. This issue also provides updates on our programs, Peace and Disarmament (P&D) and Human Rights and Refugees. We also welcome QUNO's new incoming director, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, and say farewell to our outgoing director, Jonathan Woolley who will retire on 31 December 2021.You can read more about Nozizwe and her vision for QUNO in the Q&A section.
QUNO's December 2021 issue of the Geneva Reporter newsletter is available below. This issue includes reflections and updates from QUNO staff who attended COP 26 in Glasgow on November 2021. This issue also provides updates on our programs, Peace and Disarmament (P&D) and Human Rights and Refugees. We also welcome QUNO's new incoming director, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, and say farewell to our outgoing director, Jonathan Woolley who will retire on 31 December 2021.You can read more about Nozizwe and her vision for QUNO in the Q&A section.
See attached the first paper of a series of short briefing notes titled: Migration Justice: Delivering on the Promise of the Global Compact for Migration to support steps towards migration justice through delivering on the promise of people-centered migration governance contained in the Global Compact of Migration.
This policy brief provides details of the scope of work and structure of the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF). Also, the paper includes entry points for civil society to use the IMRF for human rights protection and migration justice.
See below for the Spanish and French versions. QUNO thanks the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation for their support.
Qu'est-ce que le Forum international d'examen des migrations (IMRF) ? 129.01 KB ¿Qué es el Foro de Examen de la Migración Internacional? 124.91 KB What is the International Migration Review Forum? 125.2 KB QUNO's September 2021 issue of the Geneva Reporter newsletter is available below. This issue includes an updates of our work leading up to COP 26 in Glasgow as well as our work on legal arms trade and human rights, trade and sustainability at the WTO, and the HRC and dehumanizing treatment of migrants. Our QUNO Q&A for this issue features an interview with former PA Daniel Cullen.
The Human Rights and Refugees Program at QUNO-Geneva has begun to work explicitly on the intersection between racial justice and migration governance seeking to bring an anti-racist approach and analysis to our work on migration. The purpose of this paper is to briefly outline new UN mechanisms and highlight our initial ideas of possible actions and ways to engage during this time to further action on racial justice and migration governance. In response to the massive protests and calls for racial justice in 2020, the High Commissioner for Human Rights set out an agenda for transformative change for racial justice. New processes create entry points for States to build on, complement, and accelerate an anti-racism agenda, including on migration.
Some examples include:
Working for racial justice is central to working for migration justice and we are committed to building a world without violence where dignity and rights are upheld regardless of migration status and not on the basis of citizenship or perceived deservedness.
The Global Compact for Migration (GCM), adopted in 2018, is a significant commitment from governments to take a people centred and human rights based approach to migration policy and to work together towards this. The GCM invites regions to undertake reviews of the implementation of the compact every four years starting in 2020. These processes will feed into the International Migration Review Forum, also due to take place every four years, starting in 2022.
The 2020 Regional Migration Reviews are the first opportunity for States and others to reflect together on the initial steps taken and on how to make further progress to implement the GCM. They are also the first opportunity for detailed multilateral discussion on migration governance following the Covid-19 pandemic and to identify ways to adapt with the GCM as a guiding framework.
This paper is intended to help migrants, NGOs and other stakeholders to engage with the Regional Migration Reviews as part of their work to improve the promotion and protection of the human rights of migrants.
QUNO_Using the Regional Migration Reviews for Human Rights Protection_Revised 18JUNE21.pdf 215.92 KB To mark International Conscientious Objectors' Day on the 15TH of May 2021, QUNO is pleased to be releasing our new publication on conscientious objection and refugee status determination procedures. This report aims to support informed refugee status determination for conscientious objectors to military service seeking asylum by highlighting relevant international and regional standards and jurisprudence and analyzing national guidance. We are keen to carry out further research covering other countries and regions and encourage people with access to this information to contact the Human Rights & Refugees programme.
QUNO - Conscientious Objection to Military Service and Refugee Status Determination_14_05.pdf 787.73 KB 
