Official Question UPSC 2026
Consider the following statements about platforms for multilateral co-operation : 1. The 'Colombo Process' is a regional consultative process in which member states take binding decisions by consensus. 2. The 'Abu Dhabi Dialogue' is a voluntary non-binding consultative process among Asian countries of labour origin and destination to facilitate regional cooperation on contractual labour mobility. 3. The 'Global Forum for Migration and Development', created upon the proposal of a former UN Secretary General, is a voluntary forum whose decisions are non-binding in nature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) frameworks governing Regional Consultative Processes:
•Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Colombo Process is indeed a regional consultative body comprising Asian migrant-origin states. However, it operates purely as an informal, voluntary forum. Decisions are made by consensus but are strictly non-binding in international law.
•Statement 2 is Correct: Established in 2008, the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) bridges countries of labour origin and destination. It was designed explicitly as a voluntary and non-binding mechanism to discuss and optimize safe, temporary contractual labour mobility.
•Statement 3 is Correct: The Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) was born out of a proposal by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan during a 2006 High-Level Dialogue. It remains a state-led, informal, and voluntary process operating completely outside formal UN legislative frameworks, ensuring its outputs are non-binding.
Conclusion: Because migration inherently touches sovereign border policy, these mechanisms rely on 'soft law'. Statements 2 and 3 correctly identify this non-binding nature.