Human Rights Council enhanced interactive dialogue on the human rights of migrants in the context of large movements, 10 March 2017

Deeply concerned at the large and growing number of migrants, including women and children, who have lost their lives or have been injured in attempting to cross international borders, and recognizing the obligation of States to protect and respect the human rights of those migrants, regardless of their migration status, the Human Rights Council decided, in its resolution 32/14, to hold an enhanced interactive dialogue on “The human rights of migrants in the context of large movements.” The event was held at the thirty-fourth session of the Human Rights Council, with the participation of OHCHR and other relevant stakeholders.

The discussion took place in the framework of the follow-up to the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants, and the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants in September 2016, which paved the way for the adoption of the landmark Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in December 2018.

During the event, participants called for the adoption of human rights-based approaches to migration and noted the existence of numerous human rights violations against migrants, including the denial of access to rights, such as the right to health and the right to education, as well as the implementation of polices with a punitive nature, such as prolonged immigration detention, push-backs and border closures. Participants strongly rejected all forms of discrimination, xenophobia and racism against migrants and expressed their concern over the alarming rise of such attitudes and actions towards migrants. They also noted the need for increased focus on the human rights protection of migrants in vulnerable situations, and many welcomed OHCHR’s Principles and guidelines, supported by practical guidance, on the human rights protection of migrants in vulnerable situations, as well as OHCHR’s Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights at International Borders as helpful tools in this respect.

Documents:

• Informal summary
• OHCHR report to the Human Rights Council on Principles and practical guidance on the protection of the human rights of migrants in vulnerable situations within large and/or mixed movements, on the basis of existing legal norms – A/HRC/34/31