Controversial relocation draws criticism

The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) 2025 was supposed to be a ground-breaking event. However, bringing it forward to June and moving the venue from Bogotá 1,000 kilometres north to Barranquilla has already drawn criticism.

The decision on 10 April to move the meeting another 300 km northeast to Riohacha in La Guajira – a region characterised by poverty that is also Colombia's coal mining centre - and to reschedule it again from June to September, has led to growing frustration among local and international participants. Domestic political motives appear to be behind the decision.

International leadership threatened

Recognised worldwide as a pioneer in migration policy, particularly for its status as a transit country and its successful reception of millions of Venezuelan refugees, Colombia seems to have missed an opportunity to position itself more strongly internationally. Since 1 January 2025, the country has been a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the first time, presenting itself as a champion of human rights at the multilateral level. A successful GFMD would be an opportunity for Colombia to strengthen its leading role not only in global migration policy, but also in human rights policy.

Following the second short-term postponement, the national government's decision has been criticised, particularly in Barranquilla, where the municipal government has denounced both a loss of revenue and a lack of respect for its previous efforts. However, the fact that the networks and projects already planned by local partners around the Forum also face new challenges has received little attention, due to the reluctance of the organisers to communicate. The response from civil society remains surprisingly muted.

Riohacha in La Guajira - a twofold challenge

The first relocation to Barranquilla already had a clear domestic political component. The city, as a symbol of migration and with its important port as a gateway to the world, nevertheless seemed a politically understandable choice in February 2025. However, the announcement of the move to Riohacha raises new questions and is likely to continue to be motivated by domestic politics.

How the event, which will now start in the first week of September and is expected to attract more than 2,000 participants from over 130 countries, will be organised there remains unclear in terms of the logistical challenges.

Virtual discussions with civil society have shown that many are concerned. The changed dates and the remote location of the event make planning much more difficult. Many do not have the financial means to travel and will be forced to travel via the US due to a lack of direct flights. With the political situation perceived as threatening, there are concerns that transit permits may be denied or that problems may arise on US soil. In Riohacha, there are also questions about the adequacy of flight connections and accommodation capacity (1,500 available beds). Local initiatives may also be difficult to integrate, and delegations that had planned to travel to Barranquilla now face additional costs and rescheduling.

The government justifies the relocation with the importance of Riohacha as a border town with Venezuela, which is particularly affected by the migration crisis. The aim is to make the problem more visible and draw more attention to the border region. Deputy Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo also stressed the need to diversify and decentralise the venues, while acknowledging the challenges.

Human rights-based approach put to the test

The Summit will be held under the theme "Regular Migration, Labour Mobility and Human Rights: Pillars of Development and the Well-being of Societies", with Colombia's feminist foreign policy playing a key role. Although the meeting will prioritise gender parity and regional diversity, less than 30% of civil society delegates will be eligible for financial support.

For Colombia, the Forum remains a special opportunity to demonstrate, also in the context of its mandate in the UN Human Rights Council, that a human rights-based approach is not just a rhetorical phrase. However, despite the official mechanisms, substantive civil society involvement or "meaningful participation" remains subject to the host state's interpretation. Contrary to earlier promises, there has been no indication of how civil society actors will be more closely involved in the summit preparations. Under these conditions, it remains unclear how gender-equitable approaches to migration, the strengthening of women's rights and the creation of safe migration routes will be reflected in the demands and how these goals will be implemented in practice.

Opportunities and risks for Colombia's international positioning

Despite these challenges, the GFMD offers Colombia a unique opportunity to position itself as a leader in international migration policy. The link between migration and human rights could help the country to strengthen its role as a global actor and underpin its membership of the UN Human Rights Council with concrete action. The successful reception of Venezuelan refugees offers valuable experience that can be brought into the international discourse as examples of best practice and used to develop innovative approaches to humanitarian challenges and more inclusive migration policies.

If this goal is missed, however, Riohacha could go down in the history of international migration policy not as a catalyst for progress, but as a symbol of missed opportunities.