President Michael D. Higgins welcomes moves towards a global response to refugees and migrants
Date: Fri 19th Aug, 2016 | 18:22
19 August 2016
As world leaders prepare for the first-ever UN Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, President Michael D. Higgins has called on governments to assume greater responsibility for the welfare of migrants and refugees.
“Internationally, there are now more refugees and people forcibly displaced than at any time since the Second World War, and this situation is one symptom of a great failure by the international community to address the factors causing people to flee.
A record 65 million people have been forced from their homes and 10 million people worldwide are now considered stateless. Each day that passes, more people are forced to move across international borders, fleeing conflict and persecution or seeking opportunities for themselves and their families - and leaving behind communities in crisis.
In that context, it is encouraging that the 193 Member States of the United Nations have now agreed on a joint approach, in preparation for the UN summit on migration and refugees, to be held on 19 September.
The draft declaration, negotiated under Irish and Jordanian leadership, delivers a strong message of solidarity with refugees and migrants, focusing as it does not only on a condemnation of discrimination and intolerance towards refugees and migrants, but also stressing the positive contribution made by migrants, if given the chance.
Every refugee, displaced person and migrant is a person with capabilities, experiences, hopes and rights. It is time for action to ensure those rights are protected, and for recognising that there cannot be a lasting solution to the refugee crisis without peace and sustainable development for all.
The meeting in September must bring new proposals that will achieve integration between measures in countries of origin, procedures for transition and adaptation in countries of destination.
This will require new investment, combined with sustainable development – including access to finance with such measures as secured bonds, enhancement of investment in proofs of origin delivered with transparency, and a renewed commitment to monitoring compliance with international and humanitarian law.”