Outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for compassion for migrants and refugees, urging countries to mark the 2016 International Migrants Day by rejecting intolerance, discrimination and xenophobic rhetoric against them.
Ban, who stated this in his message to mark the day on Sunday, said 2016 was a turbulent year for refugees and migrants.
“We have seen the continued devastating effect of armed conflict on civilian populations, leading to death, destruction and displacement.
“We have witnessed the unacceptable loss of thousands of lives of people in transit in the Mediterranean and elsewhere.
“And, to add insult to injury, we have witnessed the rise of populist movements that seek to alienate and expel migrants and refugees and to blame them for various ills of society.”
The Secretary-General, however, said within the turbulence, there were also rays of hope, with concerned citizens and communities opening their arms and hearts for migrants and refugees.
“We have also seen a promising international response, culminating with the New York Declaration adopted in September at the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants.
“It is now crucial that Governments honour and build on their commitments to govern large movements of refugees and migrants in a way that is compassionate, people-centred, gender-responsive and rooted in fundamental human rights.
“Every migrant is a human being with human rights.
“Protecting and upholding the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their status, is a foundation element of the New York Declaration.”
To accomplish this, the UN chief said the international community needs stronger international cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination that is guided by international law and standards.
“We must reject intolerance, discrimination and policies driven by xenophobic rhetoric and the scapegoating of migrants.
“Those who abuse and seek to harm migrants must be held to account.
“A sustainable response to migration needs to address the drivers of forced and precarious movements of people.”
According to him, the drivers of forced migration include poverty, food insecurity, armed conflicts, natural disasters, climate change and environmental degradation, poor governance, persistent inequalities and violations of economic, social, civil, political or cultural rights.
Ban added that good governance of migration also demands expanding legal channels for safe migration, including for family reunification, for labour mobility at all skill levels and educational opportunities for children and adults.
He said this also included decriminalising irregular migration and regularising the status of undocumented migrants.
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offers an opportunity to ensure that the needs of the most marginalised, including migrants, are made a priority so that no one is left behind.
“On this International Migrants Day, I call on the international community to act on the global compact on safe, regular and orderly migration as an important contribution to building a world of peace, prosperity, dignity and opportunity for all.” (NAN)