The United States joined the following statement read by as read by Mexico’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, Francisca E. MÉNDEZ ESCOBAR

Interactive Dialogue with Mr. Felipe González Morales, Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants 

United Nations Human Rights Council – 50^th session

Joint Statement on the Human Rights of Migrants

Mr. President,

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

We thank the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his report.

The movement of people across borders is a feature of our interconnected world. Migration is not a problem, but a reality that is an essential part of the evolution and history of humankind. We have a shared responsibility to create conditions for migration to be safe, orderly, regular and humane, for the benefit of all.

Building fences, criminalizing migrants and promoting hate speech does not discourage migration. Instead, it creates a climate of hostility and violence that undermines their human rights and leads to more deaths and to the dehumanization of societies. Maintaining this approach is unsustainable.

We reaffirm that all migrants, regardless of their migration status, are human rights holders. Yet, migrants continue to be placed in vulnerable situations during their journeys due to insufficient protection measures that lead to human rights violations, discrimination, abuse, and loss of life, with a differentiated impact on the most vulnerable, including migrant children. The pandemic showed that, although migrant workers are at the frontline of essential sectors, they too often continue to be left out of national health and recovery plans and frequently lack access to essential services.

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is a solid framework to address these challenges, by mainstreaming human rights in all aspects of migration, as well as increasing international cooperation.

We welcome the Progress Declaration adopted by consensus at the International Migration Review Forum, particularly its recommended actions on human rights, focusing on migrants’ safety, health and livelihoods to reduce situations of vulnerability and prevent loss of life.

We request the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur, other special procedures, as well as the United Nations Network on Migration to increase their efforts and support to States in this regard. It is time to step up global efforts to ensure the universal realization of the human rights of migrants.

Thank you. 

List of co-sponsors of the joint statement

1. Argentina
2. Armenia
3. Bangladesh
4. Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Canada
6. Colombia
7. Costa Rica
8. Ecuador
9. Egypt
10. El Salvador
11. Fiji
12. Georgia
13. Guatemala
14. Honduras
15. Ireland 
16. Luxembourg
17. Mexico
18. Montenegro
19. Morocco
20. Pakistan
21. Panama
22. Paraguay
23. Peru
24. Philippines
25. Portugal
26. Sri Lanka
27. Thailand
28. Türkiye
29. Uruguay
30. United States of America