7-Cs of Migration: Confronting Challenges and Catalyzing Solutions

The International Migrants Day 2025 Symposium was held in Bangkok on December 17-19, 2025, marking the International Migrants Day. The event explored the multifaceted drivers of migration through the framework of the "7-Cs": Climate, Conflict, Crime, CARE (Community, Accessibility, Respect, Economy), Cyber, Corporate, and Creativity. Together, these seven themes captured the complex and interconnected forces that shaped both the causes and consequences of migration across regions. Through dedicated sessions to each theme, the symposium sought to unpack their interlinkages and engaged with them in a holistic and integrative manner. In doing so, sessions drew on the latest data, policy experiences, and research, ranging from global migration reports and regional studies, to inform discussions and actionable recommendations.

The relevance of this symposium was underscored by the unprecedented rise in forced displacement worldwide. By mid-2024, more than 123 million individuals had been uprooted globally for diverse reasons. Climate change remained a critical driver of migration, as extreme weather events and ecosystem degradation forced communities to abandon their homes in search of safety and sustainable livelihoods. At the same time, escalating conflicts and insecurity have rendered millions stateless and vulnerable, which overwhelm the asylum and protection systems that are struggling to keep pace. Adding to these challenges, the rapid spread of misinformation, often facilitated through digital and social media, has heightened risks for migrants by fueling xenophobia, policy backlashes, and even violence, as seen in recent episodes across Europe. In response, this symposium provided a platform for cross-sectoral dialogue and collaborative solution-building. 

Through the 7-Cs framework and its visual representation, the symposium brought together voices from academia, civil society, the private sector, governments, youth organisations, and migrant communities. Central to this effort was placing migrants and their communities at the heart of the solution framework, ensuring that policies remained people-centered and responsive to lived realities. By fostering cross-cutting dialogue and a collective vision, the event outlined a strategy for migration governance that is resilient, grounded in rights, and oriented towards the future. The ultimate goal was to surface scalable, forward-looking strategies that safeguard migrant rights while strengthening migration governance amid rapidly shifting global dynamics.