Not Bound but Committed: Operationalizing the Global Compact on Refugees

Abstract

The Global Compact on Refugees is not legally binding, but it gives rise to commitments by the international community as a whole. It is also rooted in international refugee law, international human rights law and international humanitarian law. This article addresses how the GCR cannot give rise to binding obligations in international law, yet provide for enhanced protection and assistance to refugees and hosting communities, and establish commitments for a fairer and more predictable sharing of burdens and responsibilities. It does this by reference to other non‐legally binding international documents and rules of law. Additionally, the use of indicators to measure states’ and other international actors’ performance in operationalizing the GCR provides a framework to measure commitments; coupled with greater humanitarian and development co‐operation, commitments can be better facilitated even if the GCR is not legally binding. Finally, the sharing of burdens and responsibilities is also fulfilled by the emphasis on solutions.

COVID-19: Marking the Gaps in Migrant and Refugee Health in Some Massive Migration Areas

“…Compliance with international instruments to which a state has acceded—especially when non-binding or effectively non-enforceable—largely depends on political willingness in dynamically changing circumstances and may be heavily modulated by domestic political agendas as well as by international positioning. As Gilbert [ 134 ] observed regarding the Global Compact on Refugees, it “ is not legally binding, but it gives rise to commitments by the international community as a whole ”. This inherent tension is seen to unfold in diverse ways in the regional and country responses to health in the context of massive migration.…”

Düzensi̇z Göç Ve Mülteci̇ Hareketleri̇ni̇n Yöneti̇mi̇nde Neoli̇beral Hegemonya Arayişlari

“…14 BM tarafından göç alanında hayata geçirilen bu ilk çok taraflı düzenlemenin amacı; göç olgusunu kapsamlı ve bütüncül bir şekilde ele almak ve göç hareketlerinin güvenli, sistemli ve düzenli olarak gerçekleşmesine imkân tanımak şeklinde ifade edilmiştir. Göçmenlerin temel hak ve özgürlüklerinin korunması ve bulundukları topluma uyum sağlamalarının desteklenmesi, çok sayıda göçmene ev sahipliği yapan ülkeler üzerindeki yükün daha adil biçimde dağıtılması ve ayrımcılıkla daha etkin mücadele edilmesi Küresel Göç Mutabakatının öncelikli hedefleri arasında yer almaktadır (Gilbert, 2019). Göç yönetişiminde 'bağlayıcı olmayan bir çerçeve' sunmayı hedefleyen bu mutabakat; başta yoksulluk olmak üzere, bireyleri ülkelerini terk etmeye zorlayarak göçü tetikleyen yapısal sorunların ortadan kaldırılması için küresel işbirliğini güçlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır (Para.…”

One-way routes complicate cooperation in migrant crises

“…Also, diverting migrants can duplicate expenses such as the costs of determining refugee status, screening for health conditions, and providing temporary housing in detention centers. International accords such as the UN Global Compact aim to manage this problem, but they are not binding 17 . Sheltering migrants depends on the goodwill of governments such as Germany in 2015 18 .…”