UN states agree historic global deal to manage migration crisis
Source: The Guardian
The first ever international deal on the migration crisis was signed on Monday by a majority of UN states, despite vociferous objections led by the United States.
The historic, non-binding global pact seeking to better manage mass migration was approved by delegates from 164 nations following 18 months of debate and negotiation. German chancellor Angela Merkel hailed it as an “important day”.
The UN’s global compact on safe, orderly and regular migration, signed in Marrakech, is aimed at coordinating action on migration around the world. It was rejected by President Donald Trump a year ago. Since then Austria, which holds the EU presidency, has pulled out of the process, along with Australia, Chile, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Slovakia and the Dominican Republic.
Merkel, who welcomed hundreds of thousand of refugees from Syria and Afghanistan into her country, received a standing ovation on Monday after an impassioned speech in which she said the UN was founded after the second world war and spoke of the “incredible suffering on humankind” wrought by the Nazi regime.
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Karen McVeigh
Mon 10 Dec 2018 15.58 GMT Last modified on Mon 10 Dec 2018 18.25 GMT
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/10/un-states-agree-historic-global-deal-to-manage-refugee-crisis