Minister Brophy attends International Conference focused on addressing migration challenges though the Khartoum Process
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From: Department of Justice
- Published on: 9 April 2025
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy has today (Wednesday) attended the Khartoum Process Ministerial Conference alongside Ministers and representatives from over 40 Countries and International Organisations in Cairo. The Conference is hosted by the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates Dr Badr Abdelatty.
The Khartoum Process was established in November 2014. It aims to enhance cooperation between countries along the migration route to Europe from the Horn of Africa, through both dialogue and concrete actions.
The Ministerial Conference celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Khartoum Process and aims to identify the common challenges while strengthening the Process’ role within the global migration framework.
Speaking at the event, Minister Colm Brophy said:
“Ireland is committed to addressing the root causes of migration to Europe, and supports initiatives across the Horn of Africa that target food insecurity, poverty, climate change, and conflict.
"We are working with partner countries and organisations to improve access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities – particularly for women and girls – with the aim of reaching those furthest behind first. This cooperation is crucial to supporting sustainable, resilient and stable societies and to reducing the drivers of migration.”
The Khartoum Process provides a multilateral forum for its partners to discuss and cooperate on migration related challenges including: trafficking in human beings; migrant-smuggling; root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement; legal migration and mobility; protection and asylum; and return, readmission and reintegration. The process is supported by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development which Ireland formally joined in July 2024.
The Conference will adopt the Cairo Ministerial Declaration and the Cairo Action Plan. The Action Plan sets out actions across five ‘domains’ with the following objectives:
1. Strengthen the nexus between regular migration and development as well as address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement.
2. Promote regular migration and mobility, in particular of young people and women.
3. Ensure international protection for refugees and forcibly displaced persons and the respect of the dignity and the human rights of all migrants.
4. Reduce and prevent irregular migration and fight against smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings.
5. Strengthen international, regional and bilateral cooperation for safe, timely, dignified and effective return, readmission and for sustainable reintegration.
Welcoming the adoption of the Declaration and Action Plan, Minister Brophy added:
“I am pleased to outline Ireland’s continued support and commitment for the Khartoum Process and its work. The Khartoum Process provides a unique and invaluable platform to address the complexities of migration in a collaborative, cohesive and comprehensive way.
"I welcome the strong efforts all involved in this process to pursue safe, orderly and regular migration that benefits us all.”