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Joint Statement on the Human Rights of Migrants
11 MINUTE READ
March 9, 2021

The United States was pleased to join over 90 co-sponsors of this joint statement.

Joint Statement – Human Rights of Migrants

Delivered by by Ambassador Socorro Flores Liera
Permanent Representative of Mexico
on behalf of 95 States

46th session of the Human Rights Council
March 9th, 2021

Madam President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of a large group of countries.

As the High Commissioner highlights in her report, much of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been exacerbated by a failure to address previously existing causes of inequality, social exclusion and deprivation. This failure is particularly evident in the case of people on the move who were already vulnerable before this crisis.

Many migrants continue to be excluded from basic services, including healthcare, and face discrimination and xenophobia.

We live in a moment that will be remembered 100 years from now, and the decisions we take today will shape our world tomorrow. This is why we must build back better.

Migrants are part of the solution and we reaffirm our commitment to the protection of their human rights regardless of status.

The health of migrants must be part of public health strategies in all countries, in line with efforts to reach Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3.8. Whilst praising States that provide access to healthcare to migrants, we express concern that other States continue to exclude migrants in their territory from their COVID-19 responses. Such exclusions counter overall efforts to overcome the pandemic and may have an impact in the human rights of migrants. We urge States to ensure the inclusion of migrant populations in COVID-19 response plans, including access to diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. We have to remember that no one is safe until we are all safe.

Madame President,

The pandemic is an opportunity to re-examine migration governance to ensure that migration policies uphold the human rights of all migrants. We invite the High Commissioner to continue her engagement with the UN Network on Migration and ensure efficiency in mainstreaming human rights in the context of human mobility. We also invite her Office to strengthen the dialogue with States at the country level, to increase awareness on the importance of inclusion and full respect of the human rights of all migrants. We are convinced that at this complex moment, the risks of doing too much are far outweighed by the risks of doing too little. We also call on the international community to ensure adequate assistance to developing countries hosting migrants in vulnerable situations, in the spirit of international solidarity.

In the face of increasing misinformation and messages that cast migrants as a threat to public health and security, we urge all States to ensure balanced narratives on migration and to remain vigilant and active. We welcome OHCHR’s work on accurate narratives and invite States, where appropriate, to take into account its toolkit “Seven key elements on building human rights-based narratives on migrants and migration”.

To conclude, the pandemic has also reminded us that international cooperation is essential, since no State can address crises of this magnitude alone. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is a solid framework for international cooperation and national action to ensure inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery measures that protect the human rights of migrants and enhance the positive effects of migration for the benefit of all.

Thank you.

1. Afghanistan

2. Albania

3. Algeria

4. Angola

5. Argentina

6. Bahrain

7. Botswana

8. Burkina Faso

9. Burundi

10. Cabo Verde

11. Cameroon

12. Canada

13. Central African Republic

14. Chad

15. Colombia

16. Comoros

17. Congo

18. Costa Rica

19. Côte d’Ivoire

20. Cyprus

21. Democratic Republic of the Congo

22. Djibouti

23. Ecuador

24. Egypt

25. El Salvador

26. Equatorial Guinea

27. Eritrea

28. Eswatini

29. Ethiopia

30. Gabon

31. Gambia (The)

32. Germany

33. Ghana

34. Guatemala

35. Guinea

36. Haiti

37. Indonesia

38. Iraq

39. Ireland

40. Jamaica

41. Japan

42. Jordan

43. Kenya

44. Kuwait

45. Lebanon

46. Lesotho

47. Liberia

48. Libya (State of)

49. Luxembourg

50. Madagascar

51. Malawi

52. Mali

53. Malta

54. Mauritania

55. Mauritius

56. Mexico

57. Morocco

58. Mozambique

59. Namibia

60. Niger

61. Nigeria

62. Norway

63. Oman

64. Pakistan

65. Panama

66. Paraguay

67. Peru

68. Philippines

69. Portugal

70. Qatar

71. Republic of Korea

72. Rwanda

73. Saudi Arabia

74. Senegal

75. Seychelles

76. Sierra Leone

77. Somalia

78. South Africa

79. South Sudan

80. Sri Lanka

81. Sudan

82. Sweden

83. Thailand

84. Togo

85. Tunisia

86. Turkey

87. Uganda

88. United Arab Emirates

89. United Republic of Tanzania

90. United States of America

91. Uruguay

92. Yemen

93. Zambia

94. Zimbabwe

95. Palestine