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?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
The Colombo Process is a regional consultative process that gives a non-binding, informal setting, so it takes no binding decisions. The Abu Dhabi Dialogue is a voluntary, non-binding consultative process between Asian labour-origin and destination countries. The Global Forum on Migration and Development grew out of Kofi Annan's 2006 proposal for a government-led forum that would produce no negotiated outcomes.
- ✗ 1. The Colombo Process describes itself as offering a non-binding and informal environment for dialogue on labour migration, so its members do not take binding decisions.
- ✓ 2. The Abu Dhabi Dialogue, set up in 2008, is described as a voluntary and non-binding inter-government consultative process between Asian countries of labour origin and destination.
- ✓ 3. Then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed the forum in June 2006 as a government-led consultative body that would not produce negotiated outcomes or recommendations, so its results are non-binding.
Remember · Colombo Process: non-binding regional consultative process (Asian labour-sending states). Abu Dhabi Dialogue: voluntary, non-binding, links Asian labour-origin and destination countries. GFMD: Kofi Annan's 2006 idea, state-led, non-binding.
Sources
- Colombo Process Secretariat, CP Meetings ↗ · reference work “The Colombo Process, following the principles of a Regional Consultative Process, provides Member States and organizations with a non-binding and informal environment to engage in dialogues and cooperation on issues related to labour migration that are of common interest and concern.”
- Abu Dhabi Dialogue, About Abu Dhabi Dialogue (origin and membership) ↗ · reference work “The Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) was established in 2008 as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between Asian countries of labour origin and destination. … The Abu Dhabi Dialogue is a voluntary and non-binding inter-government consultative process, engaging twelve Member States of the Colombo Process (CP)”
- Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), The GFMD Process (Internet Archive copy of gfmd.org) ↗ · reference work “the GFMD is a voluntary, informal, non-binding and government-led process open to all States Members and Observers of the United Nations”
- UN News, Annan proposes global forum examining link between migration and development (6 June 2006) ↗ “Mr. Annan stressed that his proposal for a government-led consultative forum on migration and development would not produce negotiated outcomes or recommendations,”
Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper I (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·