Migrants and the Mediterranean – UN rights expert visits Malta to follow up EU border management study

GENEVA (3 December 2014) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, will visit Malta from 6 to 10 December 2014 as follow-up to his 2012 year-long study on the management of the external borders of the European Union.

“Given Malta’s proximity to North Africa, Malta is a key entry point for those wishing to reach Europe,” Mr. Crépeau said. “Understanding how this maritime border is managed, and their impact on the human rights of migrants, will be an essential part of the visit to Malta.’’

During his four-day country visit to Malta, the independent expert will meet with a range of Government officials responsible for border management, EU institutions present in the country, international organisations, and migrants themselves, to discuss the complex management of the Malta maritime border.

Mr. Crépeau’s visit to Malta is the second stage in his follow-up study on the management of the EU external borders. He is currently on an official visit to Italy, as another key entry point for migrants to Europe.

At the end of the mission, the UN Special Rapporteur will share his preliminary conclusions at a press conference on 10 December 2014 at 10am, at the Grand Excelsior Hotel, Great Siege Road, Floriana FRN1810.

The follow-up study, launched by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants will result in a country mission report and a thematic report on EU border management which will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2015.

François Crépeau (Canada) was appointed Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants in June 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council, for an initial period of three years. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any government or organization and serves in his individual capacity. Mr. Crépeau is also Full Professor at the Faculty of Law of McGill University, in Montréal, where he holds the Hans and Tamar Oppenheimer Chair in Public International Law and is scientific director of the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism. Learn more, log on to: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/migration/rapporteur/index.htm

Check the Open Letter by the Special Rapporteur on EU border management: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15119&LangID=E

Read the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CMW.aspx

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Malta: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/MTIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Elizabeth Wabuge (+41 79 201 0122 / ewabuge@ohchr.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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