Importance and Role of the Legal Documents of the United Nations on Migrations

Abstract

Reason for writing the paper and research subject matter(s): To present an overview of relevant global legal documents addressing the migration and migrant crisis issues.

Objectives of the paper (scientific and/or social): The main objective of this paper is to point to the significance of conventions, declarations, and legal documents in migration governance, setting the proper standards, realisation of human rights of migrants, and promoting their welfare. The objective is also to offer an analytical review of the International Conference on Population and Development, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, and the newest Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

Methodology/Design: For this paper, as specific methods in law, dogmatic-normative method and axiological method have been used. Meta-analysis of the data of the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) has been performed.

Research/Paper limitation(s): Precise data for the region are not available, which represents a serious limitation to a comprehensive comparative scientific analysis and assessment of current and future trends.

Results/Findings: The world community increasingly recognizes the importance of the adequate instruments for setting a framework for migration issue and for finding and applying long-term solutions for the migrant crisis, and is seriously working on designing, passing and enforcing relevant laws to that end, which results in setting the path to long-term solutions to migrant crisis.

General conclusion: In general, migration governance lacks strong normative foundation that could provide appropriate response to contemporary migration trends, although this issue has been more seriously addressed lately. Global compacts on migration and refugees provide an opportunity for progress in reinforcement of standards, principles, procedures and decision-making processes, as well as setting the priorities within policy-making and making informed decisions regarding a legal framework of the migration issue.

Research/Paper validity: International law recognizes the migration issues and the need for corresponding legal framework as one of the most significant issues of our time.