Geneva, 18 December, 2023.- Combatting deep-seated attitudes of prejudice, discrimination, racism and xenophobia is key to ensuring a future for migrants with their human rights fully respected, protected and fulfilled, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of Migrants, Gehad Madi said today. On international Migrants Day, the Special Rapporteur issued the following statement:
“We must empower and recognise the role of migrants in positive interaction, particularly their social, economic and cultural contributions to transit and receiving societies as well as their communities of origin in order to eliminate all forms of discriminatory narratives and hate speech against migrants and their families.
Due to the lack of human rights-based migration governance at the local, national, regional and global levels, many migrants and their families face severe human rights violations in countries of origin, transit and destination, including right to life, liberty and security, freedom from violence and bodily harm, freedom of association, privacy and access to information, adequate housing, health, development, family life, freedom of religion or belief, cultural rights, and education.
We live in a time where migration has played an important role in shaping our reality. Migration is also part of our joint future. It provides solutions to common challenges we face and creates opportunities for development and cooperation. In preparation for the United Nations Summit of the Future taking place in September 2024, I call upon Member States to explicitly guarantee that the human rights of migrants are included when negotiating the action-oriented Pact for the Summit and way forward for the future.
Legal frameworks must be people-centred, human rights-based and gender-responsive to ensure social inclusion of all groups in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This process must include migrants. Efforts should be made to improve the ability, opportunity and dignity of migrants to be fully integrated into societies.
In addition, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), States and stakeholders should, individually and collectively, reaffirm their commitments and uphold the principles enshrined in the UDHR of equality, non-discrimination, participation and accountability for all, including migrants.”