Off the wire
• Gov't funds help 410 mln Chinese students in five years  • 3rd LD Writethru: Strong earthquake hits E. Indonesia, no tsunami alert, casualties  • HK bans import of poultry meat, products from Germany's Bavaria  • Cambodia loses multimillion USD every year as result of violence against children: report  • Major news items in leading German newspapers  • British schools distressed by teacher recruitment "crisis": survey  • China's cabinet appoints, removes officials  • Yearender: Most popular Xinhua tweets in 2015  • Maldives resumes flights to Chennai  • Indian stocks close lower  
You are here: 　 Home

Roundup: more needs to be done to protect dignity, safety of migrants: IFRC, ICRC leaders

Xinhua, December 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement highlighted on Wednesday the need for governments, aid and international organisations to increase measures protecting migrants in light of unprecedented challenges faced by people on the move.

"All people, regardless of status, have a right to live with safety and dignity," said International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Secretary General Elhadj As Sy in a high-level event on migration at the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

In view of current migration flows, with some 60 million people forced to flee their homes because of violence and war, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Director-General Yves Daccord called for coordinated efforts to address current migratory trends while addressing the root causes which are pushing so many people to flee their homes, communities and countries.

"Understanding the diversity and complexity of the human and political realities behind migration is fundamental to the development of humane, effective and sustainable responses. Such responses should be driven above all by humanity," he explained.

Both leaders recalled commitments made by members during the last International Conference in 2011, which included a migration resolution which provided migrants with access to basic services, promoted non-violence and social inclusion while ensuring that National RCRC Societies work with all migrants regardless of legal status.

"The Red Cross and Red Crescent is present in all countries along migration routes. We are able to support people at all points of their journeys. We call again on our government partners to help facilitate this role, and to strive to put the needs and rights of vulnerable people on the move at the centre," said Sy.

The International Conference, held from Dec. 8 to Dec. 10 in Geneva, is a unique global forum bringing together the leaders from over 190 State Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Key discussions include the challenges and opportunities in a fast changing humanitarian landscape, healthcare in danger, migration, protracted crises and resilience building in conflict, respect for international humanitarian law and humanitarian financing. Endit