Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
A/RES/73/195
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Recommended
Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights at International Borders when identifying
best practices.
Objective 12: Strengthen certainty and predictability in migration procedures
for appropriate screening, assessment and referral
28. We commit to increase legal certainty and predictability of migration procedures
by developing and strengthening effective and human rights -based mechanisms for
the adequate and timely screening and individual assessment of all migrants for the
purpose of identifying and facilitating access to the appropriate referral procedures,
in accordance with international law.
To realize this commitment, we will draw from the following action s:
(a) Increase transparency and accessibility of migration procedures by
communicating the requirements for entry, admission, stay, work, study or other
activities, and introducing technology to simplify application procedures, in order to
avoid unnecessary delays and expenses for States and migrants;
(b) Develop and conduct intra- and cross-regional specialized human rights
and trauma-informed training for first responders and government officials, including
law enforcement authorities, border officials, consular representatives and judicial
bodies, to facilitate and standardize identification and referral of, as well as
appropriate assistance and counselling in a culturally sensitive way to, victims of
trafficking in persons, migrants in situations of vulnerability, including children, in
particular those unaccompanied or separated, and persons affected by any form of
exploitation and abuse related to smuggling of migrants under aggravating
circumstances;
(c) Establish gender-responsive and child-sensitive referral mechanisms,
including improved screening measures and individual assessments at borders and
places of first arrival, by applying standardized operating procedures developed in
coordination with local authorities, national human rights institu tions, international
organizations and civil society;
(d) Ensure that migrant children are promptly identified at places of first
arrival in countries of transit and destination, and, if unaccompanied or separated, are
swiftly referred to child protection authorities and other relevant services as well as
appointed a competent and impartial legal guardian, that family unity is protected,
and that anyone legitimately claiming to be a child is treated as such unless otherwise
determined through a multidisciplinary, independent and child -sensitive age
assessment;
(e) Ensure that, in the context of mixed movements, relevant information on
rights and obligations under national laws and procedures, including on entry and stay
requirements, available forms of protection, as well as options for return and
reintegration, is appropriately, promptly and effectively communicated, and is
accessible.
Objective 13: Use immigration detention only as a measure of last resort and
work towards alternatives
29. We commit to ensure that any detention in the context of international migration
follows due process, is non-arbitrary, is based on law, necessity, proportionality and
individual assessments, is carried out by authorized officials and is for the shortest
possible period of time, irrespective of whether detention occurs at th e moment of
entry, in transit or in proceedings of return, and regardless of the type of place where
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