Poorly Managed Migration Fueling Deaths, Division and Exploitation, UN Warns
The United Nations has cautioned that while migration remains a powerful driver of economic and social progress, weak governance and negative narratives are turning it into a source of danger and division across the world.
In a message marking International Migrants Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said migration continues to lift economies, connect cultures and benefit both countries of origin and destination. However, he warned that when migration is mismanaged or misrepresented, it exposes vulnerable people to exploitation and life-threatening risks.
Since 2014, nearly 70,000 migrants have died or gone missing along land and sea routes globally, with the true toll believed to be significantly higher. According to the UN, tightening borders have not reduced migration pressures but have instead strengthened the operations of smugglers and traffickers, placing women and children among the most vulnerable.
The Secretary-General noted that hostile political narratives have contributed to the dehumanisation of migrants, worsening social tensions and undermining efforts to manage migration in a safe and orderly manner.
He pointed to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adopted seven years ago, as a key framework for balancing migration’s benefits with its challenges through cooperation among countries.
Mr Guterres said effective migration governance can support sustainable development and help build more resilient societies, but this requires a shift in how migrants are perceived and treated.
He called for greater solidarity and renewed commitment to protecting migrant rights, stressing that dignity and safety must remain central to migration policies.
As the world observes International Migrants Day, the UN urged governments, institutions and communities to work together to ensure that migration is managed in ways that save lives, reduce exploitation and reflect shared humanity.
