UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that migration drives economic growth and called for proper management of the global phenomenon.
In a message to the International Migrants Day to be observed on Dec. 18, Guterres said Friday that "migration is a powerful driver of economic growth, dynamism and understanding. It allows millions of people to seek new opportunities, benefiting communities of origin and destination alike."
However, he warned when poorly regulated, migration can intensify divisions within and between societies, expose people to exploitation and abuse, and undermine faith in government.
He recalled the adoption earlier this month of a landmark global compact for migration, saying the move was backed with overwhelming support by the membership of the UN.
The UN chief expressed hope that the compact would "help us to address the real challenges of migration while reaping its many benefits."
"The compact is people-centered and rooted in human rights. It points the way toward more legal opportunities for migration and stronger action to crack down on human trafficking," he noted, urging the international community to "take the path provided by the global compact: to make migration work for all."
On Dec. 10, over 160 UN member states adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. The document is the world's first inter-governmental agreement to cover all dimensions of international migration.
