Quotable quotes from high-level UN meeting on refugees, migrants

Following are quotable quotes from the speakers at the UN high-level meeting to address large movements of refugees and migrants, which opened at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday

"Today's Summit represents a breakthrough in our collective efforts to address the challenges of human mobility." The adoption of the New York Declaration will mean that "more children can attend school; more workers can securely seek jobs abroad, instead of being at the mercy of criminal smugglers, and more people will have real choices about whether to move once we end conflict, sustain peace and increase opportunities at home." -- Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general of the United Nations.

"I will take forward the commitment of the membership to begin a process leading to a global compact on migration, as well as to support a global compact on refugees." "I will be urging member states to maintain their high levels of ambition throughout these processes, and to always reach for the higher ground. The fate of millions of refugees and migrants rests with us." -- Peter Thomson, the president of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.

"Lives of men, women and children depend on actions we engage in. Our members, individually or collectively, are committed to supporting member states and other stakeholders in fulfilling the aspirations of the New York Declaration." -- Phimzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the UN under-secretary-general and executive director of UN Women.

"When millions of people see freedom's invitation only through the flapping canvas of a tent. When they carry their children and possession on their backs, walking hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles. When they and their families risk drowning, and are kept cramped in appalling detention centers and, once released, risk abuse by racists and xenophobes. There is no cause for comfort here." -- Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the UN high commissioner for human rights.

"Driving migration are demography, disasters, the digital revolution, distance-shrinking technology, north-south disparities, and environmental degradation. Unfortunately, as a result of these driving forces, a record number of people are uprooted, forced to move -- refugees, internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking, unaccompanied minors." -- William Lacy Swing, the director general of the International Organization for Migration. Enditem