OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:58 AM PT — Monday, Dec. 10, 2018
More than 160 nations recently approved a non-binding migration accord amid fierce opposition from some countries, including the U.S.
Leaders of 164 nations signed the ‘Global Compact for Migration’ Monday at a United Nations conference in Morocco. While at least 10 members have pulled out, Israel and Switzerland are among those who remain undecided.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, 2nd left, and Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nasser Bourita, center, chair the opening session of a UN Migration Conference in Marrakech, Morocco, Monday, Dec.10, 2018. Top U.N. officials and government leaders from about 150 countries are uniting around an agreement on migration, while finding themselves on the defensive about the non-binding deal amid criticism and a walkout from the United States and some other countries. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)
Opponents are saying the agreement could challenge national sovereignty and security for host countries, but supporters say the pact will potentially save lives and help boost economies with new labor.
“With better international cooperation, it would be possible to invest much more in countries of origin, creating the conditions for people to have an option to stay in their own country and build with hope their lives in their own country,” stated UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. “I do believe that better international cooperation will also open the way for more opportunities for legal migration, taking into account the needs of markets, the demography and the situation of different countries in the world.”
The United Nations General Assembly is set to adopt an official resolution on the deal next week in New York.
