This brief highlights the critical role of young people in shaping migration policy across the region. Drawing on consultations with youth from diverse backgrounds, the report outlines key challenges faced by young migrants, including climate-induced displacement, human trafficking, limited access to education and healthcare, gender-based discrimination, and barriers to fair labour migration.
The brief calls for youth-centred, rights-based approaches to migration governance, urging governments and stakeholders to meaningfully engage young people in policy design and implementation. It recommends investment in youth-led climate resilience, trauma-informed anti-trafficking measures, inclusive education systems, gender-responsive services, and equitable labour mobility pathways.
Youth voices emphasise the need for intersectional policies that reflect their lived experiences and aspirations. The brief also advocates for improved data collection, cross-border collaboration, and recognition of youth as a distinct stakeholder group within the GCM framework. With demographic shifts underway in the region, the report underscores the urgency of empowering youth to contribute to resilient, inclusive migration systems.
