UN expert on human rights of migrants to visit Brussels
GENEVA (30 January 2015) – The United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, will visit
Brussels from 2 to 5 February 2015 as follow-up to a study he carried out in
2012 on the management of the external borders of the European Union.
“2014 saw unprecedented numbers of migrants and asylum
seekers risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea in the hope of a
better life in Europe. Thousands did not survive the journey,” he said. “And
these unprecedented numbers come at a time when there have also been strong
public political debates about migrants and asylum seekers in Europe.”
“The purpose of my visit to Brussels is to continue my
assessment of EU border mechanisms and approaches from a human rights
perspective, looking at the impact of policy developments made in Brussels and
EU Member States on those migrants who arrive in Europe,” Crépeau added.
During his four-day visit to Brussels, the independent
expert will meet with a range of EU officials responsible for border
management, EU Member State representatives, international organisations and
civil society organisations, to discuss the complex management of the EU
border, focusing particularly on the issue of migrants and asylum seekers
arriving by boat.
Crépeau’s visit to Brussels is the third and final component
of his follow-up study on the management of the EU external borders. In
December 2014, he visited Italy and Malta, both key entry points for migrants
in Europe.
At the end of the mission, the UN Special Rapporteur will
share his preliminary conclusions at a press conference on 5 February 2015 at
11h00, at the United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC), Wetstraat /
Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels.
The Special Rapporteur will present a country mission report
and a thematic report on EU border management to the UN Human Rights Council in
June 2015.
ENDS
François Crépeau (Canada) was appointed Special Rapporteur
on the human rights of migrants in June 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council,
for an initial period of three years. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent
from any government or organization and serves in his individual capacity. Mr.
Crépeau is also Full Professor at the Faculty of Law of McGill University, in
Montréal, where he holds the Hans and Tamar Oppenheimer Chair in Public
International Law and is scientific director of the Centre for Human Rights and
Legal Pluralism. Learn more, log on to: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/migration/rapporteur/index.htm
Check the Open Letter by the Special Rapporteur on EU border
management:
Read the International Convention for the Protection of the
Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cmw.htm
For more information and media requests, please contact:
Elizabeth Wabuge (+41 79 201 0122 / ewabuge@ohchr.org)
Christophe Verhellen (Tel: +32 2 788 84 54, Mob: +32 475 90
63 60 / benelux@unric.org)
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