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16 February 2001
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16 February 2001
Message of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mary Robinson
“The Protection of Human Rights in Migrant Flows”
Segovia, Spain 15-17 February 2001
I would like to extend my best wishes to all the participants in this seminar and to express my deep appreciation to the Unversidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) for making this event possible. Your initiative will be a valuable contribution to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance which will take place in Durban, South Africa from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
As you know, an extensive range of preparatory meetings and regional expert seminars has been under way since last year and will continue up to the World Conference proper. The focus of your discussions – the protection of human rights in migrant flows – has been one of the important issues touched on in the preparatory meetings. For example, the Asia-Pacific Seminar of Experts which was held last September in Bangkok addressed the issue of migrants and trafficking in persons with particular reference to women and children. The regional preparatory meeting for Europe, organised by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in October 2000, also highlighted discrimination against immigrants, asylum-seekers and refugees.
As Secretary-General of the World Conference, I have stressed that the declaration and plan of action which emerge from Durban must be forward-looking and send out a strong signal that the international community is determined to fight the evils of intolerance in all its forms. I welcome the fact that you will be seeking to identify remedies and good national practices and I would encourage you to look at the conclusions and recommendations adopted at the World Conference preparatory meetings so as to inform your discussions.
The phenomenon of large-scale migration has grown dramatically in recent years. Today, some 150 million people live temporarily outside their countries of origin. Of these, according to ILO figures, 97 million are migrant workers. Spain, a country that not long ago was a source country of migrants to Northern Europe and the Americas, has become a host country for a large number of migrants.
I have expressed my concern about an increasing tendency towards a “Fortress Europe” mentality at a time when Europe is in need of increased immigration for its own future economic security. Numerous studies indicate that Europe’s aging population requires skilled and unskilled labour. What is needed is real political leadership to create an environment that supports the acceptance of greater numbers from outside Europe in furtherance of economic and social development and that gives particular attention to vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees.
As we search for solutions, we should keep in mind the international instruments which specifically address migration. The 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families has been ratified by 15 countries so far. Only five more ratifications are needed to see this important instrument enter into force. We should also note the important work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission of Human Rights on the human rights of migrants. These are key instruments to protect migrants and their families from serious forms of discrimination in access to employment, education, housing, health care or public facilities.
The recently adopted Protocols Against the Smuggling and Trafficking of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime are another important addition to the international legal regime. It is essential that the Protocols be implemented in a manner consistent with human rights, particularly those of the migrants and their families.
We should also not lose sight of the issues that lead people to make the decision to seek a home in a new land. Poverty, lack of employment opportunities, persecution and violence are all causes of migration. Furthermore, they are elements that fuel the problem of trafficking in persons which has become a most pressing problem.
Here in Spain, Ecuadorians fleeing poverty at home make up one of Spain's largest immigrant communities. I welcome the agreement signed between the Government of Spain and Ecuador to find a common solution to the respective migration problems and I hope that this initiative can be carried forward.
I would like to encourage you to share your practical suggestions and recommendations with my Office. A key to the success of the World Conference will be in gathering good practices and concrete recommendations for future action. Much work remains to be done and every contribution is vital.
My best wishes for a fruitful meeting. I look forward to learning of the results of your discussions.
* *** *
Message of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mary Robinson
“The Protection of Human Rights in Migrant Flows”
Segovia, Spain 15-17 February 2001
I would like to extend my best wishes to all the participants in this seminar and to express my deep appreciation to the Unversidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) for making this event possible. Your initiative will be a valuable contribution to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance which will take place in Durban, South Africa from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
As you know, an extensive range of preparatory meetings and regional expert seminars has been under way since last year and will continue up to the World Conference proper. The focus of your discussions – the protection of human rights in migrant flows – has been one of the important issues touched on in the preparatory meetings. For example, the Asia-Pacific Seminar of Experts which was held last September in Bangkok addressed the issue of migrants and trafficking in persons with particular reference to women and children. The regional preparatory meeting for Europe, organised by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in October 2000, also highlighted discrimination against immigrants, asylum-seekers and refugees.
As Secretary-General of the World Conference, I have stressed that the declaration and plan of action which emerge from Durban must be forward-looking and send out a strong signal that the international community is determined to fight the evils of intolerance in all its forms. I welcome the fact that you will be seeking to identify remedies and good national practices and I would encourage you to look at the conclusions and recommendations adopted at the World Conference preparatory meetings so as to inform your discussions.
The phenomenon of large-scale migration has grown dramatically in recent years. Today, some 150 million people live temporarily outside their countries of origin. Of these, according to ILO figures, 97 million are migrant workers. Spain, a country that not long ago was a source country of migrants to Northern Europe and the Americas, has become a host country for a large number of migrants.
I have expressed my concern about an increasing tendency towards a “Fortress Europe” mentality at a time when Europe is in need of increased immigration for its own future economic security. Numerous studies indicate that Europe’s aging population requires skilled and unskilled labour. What is needed is real political leadership to create an environment that supports the acceptance of greater numbers from outside Europe in furtherance of economic and social development and that gives particular attention to vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees.
As we search for solutions, we should keep in mind the international instruments which specifically address migration. The 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families has been ratified by 15 countries so far. Only five more ratifications are needed to see this important instrument enter into force. We should also note the important work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission of Human Rights on the human rights of migrants. These are key instruments to protect migrants and their families from serious forms of discrimination in access to employment, education, housing, health care or public facilities.
The recently adopted Protocols Against the Smuggling and Trafficking of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime are another important addition to the international legal regime. It is essential that the Protocols be implemented in a manner consistent with human rights, particularly those of the migrants and their families.
We should also not lose sight of the issues that lead people to make the decision to seek a home in a new land. Poverty, lack of employment opportunities, persecution and violence are all causes of migration. Furthermore, they are elements that fuel the problem of trafficking in persons which has become a most pressing problem.
Here in Spain, Ecuadorians fleeing poverty at home make up one of Spain's largest immigrant communities. I welcome the agreement signed between the Government of Spain and Ecuador to find a common solution to the respective migration problems and I hope that this initiative can be carried forward.
I would like to encourage you to share your practical suggestions and recommendations with my Office. A key to the success of the World Conference will be in gathering good practices and concrete recommendations for future action. Much work remains to be done and every contribution is vital.
My best wishes for a fruitful meeting. I look forward to learning of the results of your discussions.
* *** *