Statement by Anne Christensen, Humanitarian Diplomacy Delegate in the IFRC Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, in the Third Committee of the United Nations, in New York
Thank you for the opportunity to share with Member States some points regarding the work of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and to reiterate some of the remarks we made at the UNHCR Executive Committee meeting earlier this fall.
Working with, and for vulnerable migrants is a long standing tradition of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Our work in this field was recognized by the state parties to the Geneva Conventions at the 30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 2007. The conference declaration Together for Humanity acknowledges the role of National Societies in providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable migrants, irrespective of their legal status.
IFRC’s Policy on Migration
In the two years since the 30th International Conference we have worked to produce a policy on migration, with the aim of enhancing the coherence, effectiveness and the predictability of the Movement-wide response by the Red Cross and Red Crescent in providing assistance and protection to migrants, in a broad sense of the term, including asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless persons.
I am pleased to inform you that IFRC has finalised its global Policy on Migration, which will now go before the IFRC General Assembly this month in Nairobi. This will provide an opportunity for our worldwide membership to take part in discussions about its effective implementation, in all countries.
Mixed migration flows: different people, different needs
The IFRC’s cooperation with UNHCR and the related intergovernmental community has moved a step further this year, particularly in regard to mixed migration flows. We worked with UNHCR and IOM to organise an expert roundtable in Tunis last July on “Different People, Different Needs”, which was related to the implementation strategy of UNHCR’s 10-Point Plan of Action on Refugee Protection and Mixed Migration, and we intend to continue this type of cooperation with UNHCR and other partners.
The contribution that Red Cross and Red Crescent brings to situations of mixed flows is based on our fundamental principles and aims for an integrated approach to needs and vulnerabilities.
Our new Policy on Migration recognizes the many difficulties vulnerable migrants may face, and that the situation and needs of each migrant is unique. Furthermore, women and children – especially unaccompanied and separated minors -, traumatised persons, people with physical and mental disabilities, and elderly persons are identified as being particularly vulnerable.
In carrying out our work, we ensure, first and foremost, that the individual needs of migrants are recognised and addressed, without discrimination and irrespective of their legal status.
Basic services and assistance must be available to all vulnerable migrants, and should not be restricted to asylum seekers and refugees through legal categorisation.
Along the migratory trails, as well as in both sending and receiving countries, increasingly restrictive administrative and legislative measures are taken by Governments to reduce migration. This continues to diminish access of migrants to basic protection and assistance. It is therefore, all the more important that humanitarian actors, including particularly National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, are guaranteed the right and the means to provide those humanitarian services that are due to all human beings.
One area in which to address the needs of vulnerable migrants is in emergency humanitarian assistance planning. It is important to include provisions in disaster preparedness plans that allow and facilitate access of humanitarian aid organizations to migrants, regardless of their status. Such provisions will reassure the migrants of concern as well as the public that emergency assistance, if needed, will be made available in an equitable, needs-based manner, and without legal prejudice.
As an international humanitarian network rooted in local communities the IFRC will continue to cooperate with UNHCR and other partners, and as auxiliary to government our National Societies will continue to engage in dialogue with their respective governments on how to address the humanitarian concerns related to migration.
In closing, allow me to express our hope that IFRC’s new Policy on Migration will provide a stimulus beyond our own Red Cross and Red Crescent membership to create a stronger and wider consensus on the humanitarian response to migration.