HAMILTON, Canada

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries on Friday to reject fear-driven narratives on migration, stressing that "migration is not a crisis" and calling for stronger international cooperation to manage human mobility.

"Human mobility is profoundly shaping our world," Guterres said during an address to the General Assembly on his report on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

"Yet instead of responding with cooperation, the global reaction has too often been driven by fear, division, and rank opportunism," he said, warning that "across continents, migrants are being instrumentalized to score political points – with devastating human consequences."

Guterres stressed that "migrants are not criminals. They are victims," adding that "the real criminals are ruthless smuggling and trafficking networks."

"They profit from despair, exploit the absence of safe alternatives, and thrive when cooperation fails," he said, emphasizing that the networks "must be pursued, prosecuted and brought to justice."

Highlighting the growing restrictions on legal migration channels, he said, "Safe and regular pathways are becoming ever more restrictive, especially for families and low-wage workers who face the steepest barriers."

"When pathways are blocked, migrants do not disappear," he added.

Guterres said that "the crisis is the failure to manage it together," and outlined two priorities. "First, expanding and simplifying clear pathways of regular migration. Second, ensuring development cooperation that meaningfully invests in education, skills, and decent job creation in countries of origin."

"Let us choose cooperation over chaos, and dignity over discrimination," he added.