There were plans for hybrid participation (some in person, some online) being discussed until late last year, but in the end, “Zoomification” has now also reached the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD). This Monday, January 18, the 13th edition of the summit – theme: “The Future of Human Mobility: Innovative Partnerships for Sustainable Development” – will be held as an “online only” event. An understandable decision, but regrettable nonetheless, since the organizing Chair, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had announced that for the first time (almost) all sessions would be open to all participants, i.e. no separate Civil Society and Government Days. This principle is now being applied to the online program. In several preparatory events, civil society representatives have already picked their four advocacy priorities for the GFMD summit; these are:
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