…We need to start addressing the root causes of migration, instead of the symptoms
By Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Centre for Innovative and Pragmatic Development Initiative, CIPDI, has called on the United Nations Human Rights Commission, UNHRC, to look more into reasons of migration from, especially Sub Saharan Africa to Europe and the rest of the world.
President of the Centre, Ifeanyi Nwanoro stated this at the Intersessional Panel Discussion on Human Rights of Migrants in vulnerable situations with the topic: “Situations of vulnerability Arising from the Reasons for Migration” on Monday.
CIPDI articulated three positions which include country of origin, transit and destination, as well as human rights abuses.
“The commission should look into conditions which include human rights abuses, economic situations and other conditions which are reasons for people to leave their country of birth or origin. If these conditions are addressed, it would limit migration thereby mitigate the vulnerabilities arising from the migration.
“The countries of transit should provide protection for these migrants, and ensure their safety. Migrants should not be dehumanized, and subjected to all manner of ungodly treatments and abuses, while enroute to their destination countries.
“The country of destination should also treat migrants humanely, and give them the tools to heal from their long sojourn. They should be made to afford certain basic needs; the destination countries should not bound them in chains when repatriating them to their country of origin,” the President said adding, “If admitted into the country of destination, migrants should be given the rights accorded to citizens of that country; the right to legal representation, health care etc. The migrants should not be dehumanized and humiliated because they migrated from sub saharan Africa.”
Nwanoro observed that “citizens of countries like the US, UK don’t migrate in volumes to Mexico, Honduras, Nigeria etc but you have citizens of countries in Sub Saharan Africa, Central America engaging in a treacherous voyage to migrate to Europe, US etc. We need to start addressing the root causes of migration, instead of the symptoms.”
