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?

The correct answer is C, 2 and 3 only. All three are voluntary migration forums whose outcomes are non-binding, so statement 1 is wrong in calling the Colombo Process's decisions binding.

The Colombo Process, begun in 2003, is a regional consultative process of Asian countries that send workers abroad, including India; it works on overseas employment through voluntary, non-binding discussion. The Abu Dhabi Dialogue, started in 2008, brings these countries of origin together with the Gulf countries of destination to talk about temporary contractual labour, again without binding rules. The Global Forum on Migration and Development grew out of a proposal by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2006 and held its first meeting in Brussels in 2007; it is informal, state-led and non-binding.

A and B are wrong because they include statement 1. D is wrong because statement 3 is also correct.

Exam tip: Colombo Process (2003), Abu Dhabi Dialogue (2008), GFMD (2007, Kofi Annan's idea): all voluntary and non-binding.