Over 100 countries urge safe migration

UNITED NATIONS — More than 100 nations have approved a declaration calling on governments to intensify efforts for safe and orderly migration, crack down on human smuggling and trafficking, and ensure that migrants are respected and receive health care and other services.

The 13-page declaration was adopted by consensus by U.N. member nations attending a four-day meeting to review the first international agreement dealing with migration. The Global Compact was approved by the U.N. General Assembly in December 2018, and participants at this week’s meeting recommended that the 193-member world body also endorse Friday’s declaration in the coming months.

Assembly President Abdulla Shahid said many migrants leave their countries to find work while others are forced to leave due to violence, poverty, environmental degradation and climate change.

“Regardless of their circumstances, the international community has a responsibility to ensure that the human rights of everyone involved are respected,” he told a news conference earlier Friday.

The declaration said as many as 281 million people were international migrants in 2020 globally, of whom 48 percent were women and girls and 15 percent were under the age of 20. It recognized “the value and dignity of the labor of all migrant workers in all sectors,” and said they transferred over $751 billion in remittances, which are “a critical source of support for families and communities,” to their home countries.

In the declaration, governments said they commit to eliminating all forms of discrimination targeting migrants including racism, xenophobia, stigmatization hate speech and hate crimes. They also commit to protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants.”