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Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Migration
Algarve 18-19 November 2007
Safeguarding the rights of migrants and refugees must be put as a priority
The Ministerial Conference due to take place in Algarve, on November 18th-19th, will be the first Euromed Ministerial conference dedicated to migration issues. It is an important meeting, as it will set up the foundations for future actions and policies within this field, in the frame of the Barcelona process.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) deeply regrets the absence of any consultation mechanism of civil society organisations, during the preparatory process of the conference.
It also regrets receiving no reply to its request to be associated to the Ministerial conference. “The role of civil society is essential in the field of migration and asylum. It is even more so in South and East Mediterranean countries, where migrants, refugees and asylum seekers enjoy no legal rights whatsoever” declared Kamel Jendoubi, President of the EMHRN. “The Barcelona Process usually associated civil society organisations, in one way or the other. Keeping them totally aside from this conference is a worrying signal and a step back” Jendoubi added.
The EMHRN regrets that the issue of asylum is barely present on the agenda of the Ministerial conference.
To date, the UNHCR still received no invitation to attend the conference, although other intergovernmental organisations have been invited to observe. It is essential to differentiate refugees from migrants, as the first ones have specific rights, migrants do not necessarily have. “Policies in the field of border management and control of migratory flows have a direct impact on the access of refugees to the territories of third countries, and thus to the protection they are entitled to. Excluding the issue of asylum from the agenda of the conference is thus not coherent” specified Kamel Jendoubi.
The EMHRN is extremely worried that the protection of the rights of all migrants, as well as of refugees and asylum seekers, does not seem to be given any priority in the discussions at the Euromed level.
No references have yet been made to the UN Convention on the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families nor to the Geneva Convention on refugees.
In its position note1 , the EMHRN highlights the risks of violations, migrants and refugees may face, because of the present policies in the field of migration and asylum in the Euromed region. To date, none of these concerns seem to have been taken into account. “The promotion of human rights constitutes an essential element of the cooperation in the frame of the Barcelona Process. The promotion and protection of the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers must therefore be put as a priority of any discussions of the Partners” concluded Kamel Jendoubi.
1/ Consult the EMHRN position note on: http://www.euromedrights.net/usr/00000022/00000051/00001820.pdf
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