A Migrant-Led Milestone: Launch of GCM Indicators by Migrants and Refugees Module
The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) officially launched the GCM Indicators for Migrants and Refugees module on June 21, 2025, in Quezon City, Philippines. This launch was held during the Regional Migrant Summit 2025, a two-day gathering attended by over 60 participants from grassroots migrant organizations, advocacy groups, academic and research institutions, and faith-based organizations. The launch was also attended by representatives from civil society networks and government bodies, including Commissioner Justice Monina Arevalo Zenarosa of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines.
The GCM Indicators were the outcome of a Regional Workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand in November 2024, where migrants, refugees, and advocates collaborated to develop a migrant- and refugee-centered, human rights-based monitoring tool for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The initiative was co-organized by APMM, the Asia Pacific Research Network, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility, and the International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific.
The indicators are organized into seven thematic clusters:
1. Access to Justice
2. Access to Health, Education, and All Forms of Social Protection
3. Women Migrants’ Rights and Welfare
4. Decent Work
5. Combating Migrant and Refugee Trafficking
6. Drivers of Migration
7. Advancing Rights and Realizing Meaningful Participation
These clusters reflect the complex and interconnected realities of migrant and refugee life. Aliza Yuliana of APWLD, one of the co-organizers, emphasized the importance of an intersectional approach in monitoring the implementation of the GCM. “It is valuable to see how different migrant sectors intersect. These indicators are not just tools for governments and international agencies—they are for migrants themselves to track how policies affect their lives,” she shared.
Sunita Mainali of WOREC highlighted that the development process of the indicators itself was deeply grounded with a migrant-centric and grassroots approach. She said “the workshop became a space of critical education—not just about the GCM, but how it can actually serve migrants, even if it's not legally binding. Half of all migrants are women, yet it's hard for them to defend their rights under patriarchal systems protected by neoliberalism. The GCM itself is gender-neutral—that’s why these indicators emphasize women migrants’ rights.”
Patricia Low from Family Frontier noted how her organization had long advocated for the inclusion of marriage migration in GCM-related work. “The GCM is a huge monolith of a document. The indicators help make it relevant for advocacy work. What struck me most was the inclusivity and solidarity among different migrant and refugee groups who came together to shape these tools.”
For Baneng Mendez of United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL), the design and purpose of the indicators stand out. “We deeply appreciate those who exerted effort to create this. The design is enticing and accessible, especially for migrant communities. The challenge now is how to disseminate it widely, UNIFIL will be active in that.”
Meanwhile, Lance from Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) pointed out the challenge of translating the GCM into something understandable and empowering: “The GCM can be complex, and some use it for their own interests. But when migrants understand these indicators, they become empowered to claim their rights.”
Commissioner Justice Monina Arevalo Zenarosa affirmed the Commission on Human Rights’ support: “We must raise the status of migrant workers. Many feel they can be trampled on because they think it's just part of their job. It’s not. We hope to work further in pushing for the use of these indicators.” She also highlighted the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina migrant who was on death row in Indonesia: “She painted batik to send money home. She was resourceful. And now she dreams of teaching music to children. Migrant stories like hers must not be forgotten.”
The launch marks a significant milestone in the migrant rights movement—migrants and refugees, shaping the tools to hold governments accountable, grounded in their lived experiences.
