Morocco Continues to Consolidate the 'Sport and Migration' Group of Friends at…

The event focused on the theme: "Sport and Migration: Advancing Inclusion, Protection and Empowerment through MultiStakeholder Partnerships."

Initiated on behalf of the Group of Friends on Sport and Migration, this meeting forms part of broader international efforts aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration-known as the Marrakech Compact-through innovative and cross-cutting approaches.

The event brought together representatives from Member States, UN agencies, and civil society organizations, united by a shared ambition to leverage sport as an operational tool in support of inclusive migration policies.

Speaking on this occasion, Ismail Chekkori, Director of Global Issues at the ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, emphasized that sport serves as "a powerful vehicle for human development, inclusion, and social cohesion."

Chekkori also highlighted the pivotal role played by the Group of Friends on Sport and Migration-launched through a joint initiative by Morocco and the IOM-as a multilateral platform designed to foster dialogue, promote innovative initiatives, and strengthen the integration of sport into migration governance frameworks.

For his part, Mohammed Abdiker, Chief of Staff at the IOM, underscored that sport constitutes a universal language, as well as a powerful driver of inclusion, mental well-being, youth empowerment, and even livelihood creation.

It offers-at low cost and with high impact-an effective pathway for strengthening the social fabric at a time when communities worldwide are under severe strain.

The discussions brought to light concrete examples demonstrating the contribution of sport to social cohesion, the fight against xenophobia, the inclusion of migrants, and youth empowerment, while also fostering skills development and economic participation.

The event was also marked by the announcement of the development process for a Global Compendium of Good Practices on Sport and Migration, aimed at identifying, disseminating, and amplifying successful initiatives around the world, while encouraging States to formulate voluntary commitments that integrate sport into their national policies.