IPU passes declaration calling on parliaments to act on compacts for refugees and migrants

GENEVA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union passed a declaration Wednesday calling on members through their parliaments to transform the aspirations of two UN-led Global Compacts, one on migrants and another on refugees.

The Assembly Declaration was part of the agenda of the 138th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva from March 24-28 as it called on legislators to bring the compacts into their national laws.

IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron, a 38-year-old Mexican senator, the youngest person to hold this office, reiterated the spirit of the Assembly Declaration when she addressed a press conference here.

She said in her opening remarks, "We have the power, as members of parliament, to turn the tide. As a starting point, we should stop considering migration as a 'problem.'

"Let us think of it as both a challenge and an opportunity for all parties involved," she said noting that as a Mexican she is made deeply aware of the issue of migration.

"The 22.5 million refugees around the world, and more comprehensively the 65.6 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, are not only people in need of assistance but also agents of change both in their home and recipient countries."

The IPU emphasized the critical role of parliaments in transforming the aspirations of the two Global Compacts.

The declaration asserts that migration when properly managed contributes to greater well-being and prosperity of people in host countries.

Likewise, it says that the flight of refugees from persecution and conflict is not new.

When refugees flee, those who provide them with the protection and assistance they need represent the power of humanity and must be supported in their efforts by the international community.

During the assembly the IPU and UN refugee agency, UNHCR launched a major publication on refugee protection and building state asylum systems in support of one of the UN-initiated Global Compacts.

Among the many issues covered in the publication is mobilizing parliamentary support for establishing and maintaining fair and effective national asylum systems.

Members of Parliament also tackled sustainable development issues related to health, renewable energy, and conflict prevention and resolution throughout the five-day assembly.

They reminded governments of their responsibility to "leave no one behind" in their development efforts, said the IPU in a statement.

"The actions taken, and the statements made during this assembly clearly show that the parliamentary community is playing a pivotal role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," explained IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong. Enditem