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