Every day, thousands of people embark on dangerous journeys to find a better life. Some are refugees fleeing conflict zones such as Syria, many others are in search of education for their children, jobs, better opportunities and freedom. All have aspirations and hopes for a better future.

As part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), world leaders pledged to facilitate the safe, orderly, and responsible movement of people by establishing well-managed migration policies. Yet with no plan in place to deliver on this goal, more and more governments are tightening their borders and restricting their migration policies, despite evidence that such moves do not deter people from moving, but simply compel them to take a more perilous route. 

What would an effective global approach to migration look like? How can we respond to the aspirations of those residing in poor and conflict-affected areas? And how can the movement of people be recognised as an opportunity rather than a threat that needs to be contained and curtailed?

Peter Sutherland, the UN Special Representative for Migration, leads this event on what needs to happen to turn this global challenge into an opportunity for all.

See more of ODI's work on migration and refugees here.