Mercy at the International Migration Review Forum 2026

The second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) took place at the beginning of May. The IMRF takes place every four years to review progress and challenges in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, which was adopted in 2018. MGA prepared extensively for the IMRF and participated actively, both in its own capacity and as the Chair of the NGO Committee on Migration.

In the weeks leading up to the IMRF, Mercy closely followed the negotiations of the Progress Declaration and provided vital note-taking support to our global civil society colleagues who could not be at the UN. This information-sharing enabled partners to advocate for and influence the negotiations from afar and to arrive at the IMRF prepared to engage constructively. Amidst a difficult political environment for migration governance, the final Progress Declaration adopted by the General Assembly was a carefully-crafted balance, reaffirming the Global Compact for Migration, taking note of the limited progress made, addressing gaps and emerging challenges, and establishing recommendations to ensure the human rights of migrants regardless of their migration status, address the negative drivers of migration, strengthen cooperation, and expand and enhance regular pathways.

On Sunday before the IMRF, Mercy actively participated in the Civil Society Preparatory Day, which provided representatives from around the world with the tools and knowledge to enter the IMRF with a clear understanding of civil society priorities, Member State engagement, and actionable steps during the Forum. The day featured panels, hearing from both grassroots and international actors, as well as breakout activities to foster discussion.

During the week of the IMRF, Mercy engaged in a range of meaningful spaces for dialogue with Member States and stakeholders on our work with and for migrants and their communities:

The IMRF Multi-Stakeholder Hearing brought together civil society, local authorities, trade unions, the private sector, youth, and other stakeholders to discuss four key areas: human rights of all migrants; labor rights and protections; pathways for safe, orderly, and regular migration; and drivers of migration and social inclusion. Katelin Lawrie contributed to the final thematic discussion, sharing the work of Young Mercy Links in Australia, focused on community integration for migrants and survivors of labor exploitation. Katelin concluded her intervention by emphasizing the crucial role of faith-based and grassroots organizations in international processes to achieve greater impact for migrants at the global, regional, and local levels.

Mercy also helped to organize a peaceful rally across from the United Nations, aimed at catching IMRF participants as they left the session for the evening. The rally featured messages such as ‘Resist, Reclaim, Realise’ and ‘Migrant Rights are Human Rights’. Over 100 people participated, highlighting the desire for action and voice in this space.

Cecilie Kern moderated the side event “The power of interfaith solidarity for migrant rights, protection and justice in times of crisis.” The event featured speakers from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim faith traditions, who expressed a strong, unified interfaith commitment to the non-negotiable protection of migrants and their communities, highlighted the essential role of faith-based actors in advancing the objectives of the Global Compact for Migration, and offered concrete, values-based recommendations for building a more just, effective, and future-ready system of global migration governance.

Finally, Mercy supported the Civil Society Action Committee Declaration "A Civil Society Line Against Regression: Recommitting to Rights-Based Multilateralism,” which issues an urgent call to action to protect and uphold migrants’ human and labor rights. We remain committed to a people-centered implementation of the Global Compact for Migration and will continue to share Mercy experiences to influence more just and dignified migration policies.

ENDS