Rabat – The National Human Rights Council (CNDH), in partnership with the International Organization for Migration Morocco (IOM Morocco), is organizing a workshop titled “Preventing Disappearances in Migration, Protecting Families’ Rights, and Humanized Border Management.”
The event will take place on December 11 at the CNDH headquarters in Rabat. The workshop is part of efforts to implement the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (CGM), adopted in Marrakech in 2018, said CNDH in a press release.
CNDH’s workshop will mainly focus on achieving Objective 8 of the Compact, which is to “save lives and establish coordinated international efforts on missing migrants.”
The workshop also aims to support the practical application of recommendations made during a thematic meeting on family separation and missing persons in migration, held in September 2023 under the Rabat Process.
Alarming figures
A 2024 report by IOM’s office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region revealed that over 8,600 migrant deaths and disappearances were recorded worldwide in 2023, with the MENA region accounting for 58% of these tragedies. This amounts to 4,984 cases, a significant increase from 3,820 in 2022.
The Mediterranean remains a critical and deadly transit route, with 215,508 migrants reaching Europe, but 3,155 fatalities were reported, including 1,878 off MENA coasts.
Land routes, particularly the Sahara Desert, saw 399 deaths, with a 73% rise in fatalities on desert crossings.
The report noted that children are especially vulnerable, with 913 deaths recorded in MENA since 2014. Despite these alarming figures, many deaths remain unreported due to limited data collection and reliance on media sources.
The CNDH workshop will bring together government officials, international organizations, and civil society actors to share best practices for addressing cases of migrant disappearances.
They will also discuss the importance of civil society in fostering a participatory approach, as well as strengthen mechanisms for identifying deceased individuals.
Key discussions will cover the legal framework for protecting migrants, measures to address their disappearances, and civil society efforts to support families of missing persons. The event will also include examples of international cooperation in preventing migrant disappearances.
The opening session will feature remarks by President of CNDH Amina Bouayach and Head of Mission for IOM Morocco, Laura Palatini.
Read also: 2023 Is Deadliest Year on Record for Migrants with Nearly 8,600 Deaths
The GCM is the first intergovernmental agreement to provide a comprehensive framework for managing migration at a global level. It aims to serve as a cooperative framework for states to enhance migration management while respecting sovereignty.
The Compact outlines 23 objectives to address migration comprehensively. These objectives include reducing the risks migrants face, combating human trafficking, improving the availability of legal migration pathways, and strengthening international cooperation.
Many countries supported the GCM for its focus on cooperation and the potential to manage migration effectively. However, several states, including the US, Hungary, and Austria, opted out, citing concerns about the potential undermining of national sovereignty and encouragement of increased migration.
