India Advocates for Inclusive Migration Framework and Strengthened Anti-Trafficking Measures at UN Forum
UNITED NATIONS — India used the platform of the United Nations General Assembly's second International Migration Review Forum to call for a more inclusive and humane global approach to migration, while highlighting its own efforts to protect migrant workers and expand legal pathways for mobility.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, leading the Indian delegation, addressed the plenary session on Thursday and outlined New Delhi's vision for migration governance. According to Singh, India seeks to build an inclusive, humane, and future-ready framework that addresses the challenges of irregular migration and trafficking while promoting the benefits of regular mobility.
"Migration is ultimately about people, their aspirations, resilience, and contributions," Singh said, as reported by The Hindu. He emphasized that India's approach is rooted in a "holistic and pragmatic" framework that focuses on protecting migrants at every stage of their journey and fostering international cooperation.
The minister pointed to India's status as home to one of the world's largest diasporas, numbering more than 34 million, and as a leading recipient of global remittances, which he said underscores the transformative power of migration for both origin and destination countries.
Bilateral Mobility Agreements and Consular Support
Singh detailed concrete steps India has taken to facilitate safe and orderly migration. He noted that India has concluded bilateral mobility agreements and memorandums of understanding with 23 countries, with more negotiations underway. These agreements are designed to create sustainable pathways for ethical mobility, he explained.
In terms of consular protection, Singh highlighted the strengthening of India's grievance redressal portal, known as MADAD, and the establishment of Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) to assist Indian nationals abroad. He also mentioned the Passport Seva Online Portal, which provides efficient passport services to citizens at home and overseas. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been used to provide emergency assistance to workers in distress, he added.
Meetings with IOM and Canada
On the sidelines of the forum, Singh engaged in bilateral meetings to advance migration cooperation. He met with Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), on Friday, according to a social media post cited by The Hindu. The discussions focused on expanding and diversifying regular migration pathways and on India's proactive approach to implementing the Global Compact for Migration and IOM activities in India.
Singh also met Lena Metlege Diab, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. Their conversation centered on the Canada-India Migration Initiative and areas of mutual interest regarding the mobility of skilled workers and students, Singh said in his post.
Additionally, Singh held what he described as a "productive meeting" with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday at UN headquarters.
Forum Context
The second International Migration Review Forum, held under the auspices of the UN General Assembly from May 4 to 8, is a global platform for assessing progress on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Singh arrived in New York on May 3 to lead India's delegation.
Beyond the plenary statement, India also organized a side-event titled "Leveraging Digital Innovation in Migration Governance – The e-Migrate Experience," showcasing its use of technology to manage migration flows. The Hindu's coverage notes that Singh delivered India's national statement at the plenary and addressed this side-event, which was organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN.
Perspective and Verification
The details of Singh's statements and meetings are drawn from The Hindu's reporting, which cited his remarks during the forum and his social media posts. While the article presents these as direct quotes and official accounts, independent verification of the specifics, such as the exact number of bilateral agreements or the content of the meetings, is not provided. The forum's official records may offer further confirmation in due course.