back to top

Commonwealth Supports UN Effort To End World Refugee Crisis

refugee


Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, has said that the Commonwealth supports plans by the United Nations for a global agreement to end the refugee and migration crisis around the world.

The global compact for safe, regular and orderly migration is part of the agenda for sustainable development and achieving full respect for the human rights of migrants by 2030.

This would be a subject of discussion at a roundtable event at the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA.

She stated: “I would like to commend this initiative of Secretary-General Ban-Ki-Moon and the UNGA president, Peter Thomson,

“This high-level plenary meeting is a bold response to forced displacement of populations, which has now become a global crisis that requires our collective effort as the international community.”

A statement by Barnie Choudhury, Director of Media and Public Affairs, said the Commonwealth Secretary General will stress the importance of nations considering how best to use the mechanisms needed to tackle the crisis, such as economic, political, legal, humanitarian aspects.

This year, UN member states will begin the process of intergovernmental negotiations, leading to the adoption of the compact in 2018.

Scotland will say: “The Commonwealth will play an important role to ensure that this global compact leaves no one behind by identifying specific challenges faced by our member states, especially small nations, which represent the majority of our members.”

Read Also:

Migration remains a big challenge for the Commonwealth:

  • 80% of refugees are hosted in the developing world
  • Pakistan hosts more than 1.7 million refugees, more than any other country in the world
  • African countries account for 40% of all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
  • Conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Somalia are crucial factors which lead to the increase in refugees in East Africa, particularly Uganda and Kenya
  • Of the more than 850,000 asylum seekers worldwide, nearly 200,000 are present in South Africa alone
  • East Africa, Southern Africa, the Caribbean and South Pacific regions of the Commonwealth are particularly vulnerable to migration based on the effect of climate change

Scotland will be focusing on the challenges of climate change on migration as well as calling on leaders to pay more attention to the needs of young people.




     

     

    Read Also:

    “Our young people represent more than 60% of our total population. We recognise they have an important role in building stable, secure and prosperous societies,” she will say.

    “In this regard, we strongly believe that the proposed compact must identify specific needs and vulnerabilities of young people, who constitute one third of the world’s international migrants. We need to engage with them to find durable and innovative solutions.”

    She is also expected to make a passionate case to protect women, who make up half the world’s international migrants.

    “The Commonwealth member states have made clear political commitments to address collectively the causes of irregular migration, while ensuring full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of migrants,” she will conclude.

    Join the ICIR WhatsApp channel for in-depth reports on the economy, politics and governance, and investigative reports.

    Support the ICIR

    We invite you to support us to continue the work we do.

    Your support will strengthen journalism in Nigeria and help sustain our democracy.

    If you or someone you know has a lead, tip or personal experience about this report, our WhatsApp line is open and confidential for a conversation

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here


    Support the ICIR

    We need your support to produce excellent journalism at all times.

    -Advertisement-

    Recent

    - Advertisement