INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION PLACE DU PETIT-SACONNEX 1211 GENEVA 19, SWITZERLAND |
SUPPORT OF PARLIAMENTS FOR THE RIGHTS OF REFUGEES AND PERSONS DISPLACED BY WAR AND OCCUPATION, AND ASSISTANCE WITH A VIEW TO THEIR REPATRIATION, AND FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO COMBAT THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF PEOPLE-SMUGGLING
Resolution adopted without a vote by the 103rd Inter-Parliamentary Conference
A. Refugees Deeply concerned at the increasing numbers of refugees and persons displaced by occupation, wars and disputes in different parts of the world, Reaffirming the fundamental importance of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol of 1967, Recalling the principle of non-refoulement, enshrined in international law, which requires that no State shall return a refugee in any manner to a country where his or her life or freedom may be endangered and includes non-rejection at the frontier, Expressing grave concern at the poor conditions afflicting refugees and displaced persons, and at their severe suffering, Aware that the majority of refugees are women, children and elderly people who need special care and assistance, Recalling that the problem of refugees and displaced persons is not only a human problem but is closely linked to regional stability and international security, Noting that large refugee populations can adversely affect the countries and communities where they are granted refuge by placing a strain on resources, the socio-economic and natural environment, and on social and political stability, Recognising the need to take all necessary measures to guarantee protection for all refugees and displaced persons who are in urgent need of it, Confirming the need for coordination of national, regional and international efforts to devise policies and laws which guarantee the provision of international aid to any person or group of persons urgently in need of it, Affirming that the primary obligation of governments is to prevent the creation of refugee flows by addressing their root causes, in particular endemic poverty, conflict, political persecution and repression, and ethnic and racial discrimination, Recalling that the right of all persons, including refugees and persons displaced by war and occupation, to return to their country is a fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Noting that the displacement of civilian populations in time of war, occupation or conflict is immoral and unlawful, and constitutes a serious violation of international law and human rights, Considering that acknowledgement of moral and legal responsibility for the displacement of refugees is an important step towards remedial action and reconciliation, Recognising that repatriation does not impair the right of refugees to claim compensation for physical, material and psychological injury, Concerned at the growing dangers and physical risks to the staff of UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies carrying out protection work in the field, B. People-smuggling Recognising the challenge that has emerged worldwide through the rapid growth of organised people-smuggling and its links with organised crime, Recalling that people-smuggling can lead, in the country of asylum, to sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced marriage, forced adoption, begging or criminal activities being imposed by the traffickers on vulnerable illegal migrants, especially women and children, Acknowledging that the root causes of irregular migration and people-smuggling are discrepancies in living standards and opportunities, and the frequent failure of the international community and of States to prevent conflict, political persecution and communal strife, Further acknowledging the refugee and irregular migrant burden carried by countries of first asylum as well as other countries which are used as transit, the need for greater international burden sharing, and the link between the inadequacy of international efforts to find lasting refugee solutions and the misuse of domestic asylum systems through people-smuggling, Concerned that the illegal smuggling of people is undermining the proper exercise of national sovereignty, leading to the misuse of migration and asylum procedures and imposing huge costs on all countries concerned, Further concerned that the community consensus on the compassionate treatment of refugees and the belief in the benefits of legal and orderly movements of people are being harmed by irregular movements and people-smuggling, Deeming it morally abhorrent that people smugglers are making large amounts of money by exploiting vulnerable groups of people, and underscoring the concern of the world's nations to stamp out trafficking in human beings, Realising that no country can solve the problem on its own, and that international partnerships and cooperation are the only means of countering the global networks of organised criminal groups involved in people-smuggling activities,
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