UN members urged: Consider proposed HR principles at int’l borders

The Philippines appealed to United Nations member states and other stakeholders to take into account the recommended principles and guidelines on human rights at international borders.

Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Offices and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Cecilia Rebong, made this appeal at a panel discussion to launch the Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights at International Borders at the sidelines of the ongoing session in Geneva of the UN Human Rights Council.

Rebong explained the recommended principles and guidelines were drafted with the view of assisting states in addressing human rights violations faced by migrants at international borders and the gaps in the effective enjoyment of their human rights.

She cited the report of the UN Secretary General that migrants crossing international borders are vulnerable to abuse and violation of their human rights.

“They often endure ill treatment at the hands of border officials, for example by the disproportionate use of force to prevent entry or when carrying out a forced return,” Rebong said.

The recommended principles and guidelines are derived from the core international human rights conventions. These principles and guidelines are envisioned to support states in fulfilling their border governance obligations in accordance with international human rights law and other relevant human rights standards, she said.

Rebong noted the Philippines is also involved in two related initiatives to protect the rights of migrants crossing borders. They are the Migrants in Crisis in Countries in Crisis (MICIC) and the Nansen Initiative.

The MICIC initiative is co-chaired by the Philippines and the US, while the Philippines sits as part of the Nansen Initiative steering group. The Nansen initiative is being led by Norway and Switzerland.

The MICIC initiative aims at preparing a set of voluntary guidelines that may be used for states and other stakeholders in responding to the protection needs of migrants caught in countries experiencing a crisis due to security concerns or natural disasters.