Global Migration Group expresses concern on rights of international migrants

The Global Migration Group (GMG) is deeply concerned about the human rights of international migrants in an irregular situation around the globe.

It said in a statement that although the number of migrants without proper legal status in transit or host countries was unknown, they were estimated to be in the tens of millions worldwide.

Migrants in an irregular situation were more likely to face discrimination, exclusion, exploitation and abuse at all stages of the migration process. They often faced prolonged detention or ill-treatment, and in some cases enslavement, rape or even murder, it said.

The group said migrants were more likely to be targeted by xenophobes and racists, victimised by unscrupulous employers and sexual predators, and could easily fall prey to criminal traffickers and smugglers.

Rendered vulnerable by their irregular status, these men, women and children were often afraid or unable to seek protection and relief from the authorities of countries of origin, transit or destination.

Children, especially those unaccompanied and separated, were particularly at risk and migrants in an irregular situation were often denied even the most basic labor protections, due process guarantees, personal security, and healthcare.

Female migrants in these situations faced greater risk of sexual exploitation, gender based violence, HIV transmission, multiple discriminations and specific challenges in access to employment, and health services, including reproductive healthcare.

The group said people who left their own countries because their lives and liberty were at risk were often obliged to move in an irregular manner and found it increasingly difficult to seek and obtain refugee status.

Too often, states addressed irregular migration solely through the lens of sovereignty, border security or law enforcement, sometimes driven by hostile domestic constituencies.

"Although States have legitimate interests in securing their borders and exercising immigration controls, such concerns cannot, and indeed, as a matter of international law do not, trump the obligations of the State to respect the internationally guaranteed rights of all persons, to protect those rights against abuses, and to fulfill the rights necessary for them to enjoy a life of dignity and security," the group said.

It called upon states to review the situation of migrants in an irregular situation within their territories and to work towards ensuring that their laws and regulations conform with and promote the realisation of the applicable international human rights standards and guarantees at all stages of the migration process.

The GMG recognised the difficulties many States faced and wasready to continue to support them in their efforts to ensure the effective implementation of appropriate legislation, including through capacity development.

Together with civil society, the private sector, the media and host communities they should address the demand side of trafficking and exploitation, work actively to combat xenophobia, racism and incitement to discrimination in national politics and in public discourse, to protect all migrants, as well as to actively promote tolerant societies in which every person can enjoy his or her human rights, regardless of migration status, it said.

It promised to continue to support efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration by, among other things, promoting social and economic development to reduce migration pressures and the expansion of channels for regular migration.

But the irregular situation international migrants might find themselves in should not deprive them either of their humanity or of their rights, it said.