Too many migrants continue to be victims of rights violations

United Nations, New York, 18 December 2009 - Today is International Migrants Day.

In his message marking the day, the Secretary-General says that migration can be a positive and empowering experience for migrants themselves, and for both the home and host societies.

But he notes that too many migrants suffer discrimination, exploitation, and abuse. The Secretary-General says that migrants are frequent targets of hate speech, harassment and violence. They are also unfairly blamed for crime and economic difficulties.




The Secretary-General therefore calls on Governments to protect the human rights of migrants and to put human rights at the heart of migration policy. He further urges States to raise awareness of the positive contributions migrants make to the economic, social and cultural lives of their host countries.

News story:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33292&Cr=migrant&Cr1=

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• United Nations
• UN
• International Migrants Day
• Secretary-General
• Ban Ki-moon
• Migrant
• Discrimination
• Exploitation
• Abuse
• Target
• Harassment
• Violence
• Crime
• Human right