Concluding Thoughts on the Future of International Migration Law

Abstract

Abstract This concluding chapter summarizes key themes and presents some final thoughts. The normative and institutional framework governing migration has grown and evolved over the last century to embody a detailed set of international rules and institutions. Despite its obvious limits, soft law has been an influential vehicle to foster intergovernmental dialogue and confidence building on a traditionally contentious issue alongside the North–South divide. The UN and its Member States are now embarking upon a vast reform which constitutes a new turning point for multilateralism. The challenges are numerous and require more than ever a global and rational vision. At the institutional level, the overall UN framework is arguably bound to remain multilevel and cross-cutting, reflecting the multidimensional nature of migration. At the normative level, the most important challenge of international migration law relates to its domestic application by states.