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22/03/2016

Migration and human rights

Organizations denounce European abuses in the UN and request support for legal reforms in South America



Human rights organizations from South America have requested the support of United Nations Member States a

nd the Special Rapporteur on Migrants for the immigration reform conducted by Argentina and the close monitoring of the reforms underway in Brazil and Chile.

In an oral statement made this Tuesday, March 22, at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the organizations stressed that the reforms being implemented in South America “can respond to the phenomenon of migration in a more supportive, fair and sustainable way”.

Argentina’s recent immigration law requires the State to document all immigrants, including for purposes of employment, and assure them social rights, due legal process and access to justice. Immigration law reform is also being debated in Brazil and Chile, with strong mobilization from society against criminalization and discrimination, and in favor of respecting due legal process, cutting bureaucracy and providing more access to visas and residency permits.

The organizations also criticized European countries for limiting access to rights, the growing militarization of the borders, and the interception of immigrants and their detention and deportation – measure?s that have also been adopted by Mexico and the United States.

“This Council must promote an immigration policy paradigm that is underpinned by the respect and protection of human rights of all migrants. In Argentina, Brazil and Chile, we believe that this is an achievable goal,” said the organizations.

The oral statement was made by CELS, with the support of Conectas Direitos Humanos, Cáritas Arquidiocesana São Paulo, SEFRAS, ITTC, Missão Paz, Corporación Humanas, Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Diego Portales and SJM Chile.

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