Social Justice in an Open World: The Role of the United Nations
for people whose intentions and status are often unclear. Many migrants are subjected to detention or quasi-detention, expulsion, endless waiting, and the usual amount of misery that accompanies this sort of situation. National policies relating to migratory movements and the situation of migrants are often based on bilateral agreements between sending and receiving countries or multilateral agreements between sending, receiving and transit countries. Such agreements, frequently concluded between former colonial powers and their former colonies, cover a variety of matters ranging from visa regimes to financial aid for returnees. Over the past decade or so, regional consultations and agreements have been increasingly relied upon for the conclusion, modification or reorientation of national policies and bilateral agreements relating to migration. Regional consultative processes, which are usually informal, bring together representatives from Governments, international organizations-essentially the International Organization for Migration (I0M)-and civil society organizations. Examples of such consultations include the Puebla Process, the Manila Process, the Migration Dialogue for South Africa, and the Budapest Process. These regional consultations are credited with the creation of a climate of understanding between the partners involved, and with a number of concrete achievements. Discussions relating to the present thematic focus prompted the following questions: What are the virtues and shortcomings of the current migration policies of those affluent countries most sought by international migrants? This broad question might be addressed from the perspective of the receiving countries themselves, from the perspective of the countries of emigration, and from the perspective of the United Nations. What lessons can be derived from attempts to link international migration policies and development policies? In which aspects of the regulation of international migration and the protection of international migrants do bilateral agreements play an essential role? What are the reasons for the increased reliance on, and widely acknowledged usefulness of, informal regional consultative processes? Would a world regime for international migration and international migrants that would be reasonably satisfying for all concerned have a chance to emerge if it were backed up by coherent national policies and bilateral and regional consultations and agreements launched when and where interested countries deemed them necessary? Topic 4: Reflecting on the objectives, instruments and modalities of strengthened international cooperation 133