Refugees and migrants are too often victims of systems that prioritize border security over human life. ‘Abandoned to their fate’: the threats migrants face Refugees and migrants
Every year, thousands of refugees and migrants embark on dangerous journeys in overloaded, rickety boats to escape war, poverty and persecution. For many, however, the attempt ends in tragedy: the seas become their final refuge.
Today, as International Migrants Day is marked, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), other UN agencies and humanitarian organizations are calling for urgent action to step up search and rescue operations and end penalties for those who help people in need.
Avoidable Tragedies
For migrants who set out on sea routes, every minute is a fight for survival. The situation is made worse by the fact that rescue operations are rare and many countries are tightening their border closures.
UNHCR reminds that states have an obligation to provide assistance to people in distress, regardless of their status. The statement, released on 18 December, stresses the need for international cooperation, transparency in rescue services and accountability for those who violate human rights at sea.
The statement also calls on countries to renew their discussions on migration policies and find solutions that protect lives.
Invisible on Land: Migrants with Disabilities
On International Migrants Day, the UN Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities drew attention to the problems of migrants with disabilities, who suffer doubly, facing discrimination and a lack of necessary assistance.
Some people become disabled in their home countries but still undertake the dangerous journey in search of a better life. Others become disabled en route, injured in deserts, jungles or on freight trains.
“These people face double discrimination—as migrants and as people with disabilities,” the UN human rights group said in a statement.
At their destinations, they often find themselves without support: unable to find work, without the necessary medical care, rehabilitation or social security. Many are forced to work in dangerous conditions where the risk of further injury is extremely high.
A Call to Action
The problems of migrant deaths at sea and the lack of support on land are linked by a common problem: indifference. Refugees and migrants too often fall victim to systems that prioritize border security over human life. “Human rights should not stop at borders,” UNHCR reminds.
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The situation of migrants with disabilities particularly acutely demonstrates how ignoring problems exacerbates suffering. The Committees on the Rights of Migrant Workers and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are calling on governments to take measures to protect people from this vulnerable category of the population.