The Mayors Migration Council (MMC) is a new initiative to help cities have their voices and interests reflected in international deliberations and policies concerning refugees and migrants.

The objective of the MMC is to empower and enable cities with knowledge, connections, and technical assistance to engage in migration diplomacy and policy-making on a regional and international level.

WHY A NEW INITIATIVE?
Cities are at the center of global mobility. In 2018, a majority of the world’s population lived in cities and other urban settlements. That number continues to rise as many refugees and other migrants arrive and settle in cities. In 2015, 22 “global cities” hosted 44 million international migrants, which is 18 percent of the world total.

Cities are on the frontlines of welcoming refugees and migrants, carrying out the lion’s share of reception and service provision. Furthermore, they are laboratories where solutions to the most pressing migration challenges of their era are already being tested.

Their experiences should—and must—be heard and consulted at all levels of government to ensure that international migration policy is crafted in a way that is coherent, pragmatic and reflects realities on the ground.

There is an urgent need to accelerate action on migration and a growing recognition that cities are part of the solution.

Cities and city networks carry out urban diplomacy at the global level on a range of issues and are increasingly involved in migration policy. The MMC’s distinguishing feature and added value will be to act as a focal point of expertise to support cities and city networks so as to enhance their voice, action and influence on migration and refugee issues.