Transforming Global Migration Governance Through and Beyond the Global Compacts

In 2018, the United Nations adopted the controversial UN Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees. What have they meant for global migration policy? In this report, the authors find that while the compacts succeed in driving a ‘whole of society’ approach, they are non-binding and lack the permanent structures, accountability mechanisms, and resources needed to underpin their implementation. Despite these ongoing issues, no major actor currently supports reforming the compacts. Thus, they are likely to serve as dialogue forums, with countries turning to mini- or bilateral support for migration governance.