Published on: 2026-05-05
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
At the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, the International Migration Review Forum opened. At the beginning of the meeting, the publication of a new report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was timed. The authors of the document warn: migration continues to play a key role in the development of the world economy; however, it is becoming increasingly difficult to take advantage of these benefits due to restrictions on legal migration channels.
Forum on Audit from May 5 to 8 under the auspices of the President of the UN General Assembly and dedicated to the evaluation of implementationGlobal agreement on safe, orderly, and legal migration– the first in the history of intergovernmental agreements encompassing all aspects of this international phenomenon. It is expected that as a result of the meeting, states will adopt a Declaration on progress in the implementation of the treaty.
Migration as an engine of the economy
According to the “World Migration Report – 2026,” by mid-2024, there were about 304 million international migrants worldwide – approximately 3.7 percent of the planet’s population. The number of labor migrants is also growing: over the decade from 2013 to 2022, it increased by more than 30 million.
Financial transfers by migrants remain the most important source of support for many countries. In 2024, the volume of remittances, according to estimates, reached 905 billion dollars, of which 685 billion were directed to countries with low and middle income levels. These flows already exceed the volumes of official development assistance and direct foreign investments combined.
The head of IOM Emi Poup emphasized that migration contributes to the creation of jobs, economic growth, stability, and social cohesion. She also noted that coordinated actions by governments at regional and global levels allow for better migration management and strengthen public trust.
Restrictions increase risks
The report emphasizes: restricting legal migration routes does not reduce their scale, but only diverts people to more dangerous and irregular routes. This increases risks for the migrants themselves and raises costs for states, while also hindering countries from benefiting economically from the advantages that the movement process promises.
At the same time, a significant inequality in access to mobility opportunities occurs. Residents of wealthier countries receive more legal opportunities for migration, whereas for people from less affluent states, such routes remain limited. This, experts note, restrains the global mobility of the workforce and also reduces potential economic benefits.
Movements and Crises
The report comes against the backdrop of a record level of forced displacement. By the end of 2024, more than 120 million people will have been forced to leave their homes – including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. Most of these displacements occur within countries, not across borders.
The main factors remain conflicts, climate change, and structural development problems. Many crises are protracted in nature, requiring not only humanitarian aid but also long-term development solutions.
What experts propose
The report’s authors call for expanding safe and legal migration channels, reducing the cost of money transfers, supporting the mobility of skills and reintegration programs. Priorities include strengthening regional cooperation, improving data collection, and developing more inclusive policies based on facts.
These issues will become central in a series of discussions at the New York forum, where representatives of states will consider all 23 goals of the Global Compact for Migration. On Thursday, the UN Secretary-General will address the participants.
Experts emphasize: with effective management, migration can bring tangible benefits both to countries of origin and to host states. However, without coordinated actions by the international community, this potential can be lost.
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