Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration, the 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)'.
2. The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries.
3. The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments.

How many of the above statements are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2023)
Answer: None
Notes: The correct answer is [D] None. This question tests your precision regarding international agreements and the specific mandates of global frameworks.

• Statement 1 (Incorrect): While the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) was adopted by a vast majority of UN member states in December 2018 (164 countries initially), it was not adopted by all countries. Notably, the United States, Hungary, Israel, and several others opted out or voted against its adoption, citing concerns over national sovereignty.
• Statement 2 (Incorrect): The GCM is explicitly a non-legally binding cooperative framework. It recognizes that every state has the sovereign right to determine its own national migration policy. It provides a menu of 23 objectives and best practices but does not impose legal obligations or enforcement mechanisms on member countries.
• Statement 3 (Incorrect): The GCM specifically focuses on international migration in all its dimensions. It does not address "internal migration" or "internally displaced persons" (IDPs). Issues related to IDPs are generally covered under different frameworks, such as the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, as IDPs have not crossed an international border.

The GCM was the first intergovernmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner.