UN urges world leaders to shield migrants, refugees from exploitation

The United Nations has urged world leaders to do more to shield migrants and refugees, particularly young people, women and children from those who would exploit their yearnings for a better, safer and more dignified future.

"We must govern migration in a safe and rights-based way, create sufficient and accessible pathways for the entry of migrants and refugees, and ultimately tackle the root causes of the conflicts -- extreme poverty, environmental degradation and other crises which force people across borders, seas and deserts", the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon said this in his message at the UN headquarters to mark World day against trafficking in persons.

All over the world, he noted that tens of millions of people are desperately seeking refuge, many of them far from home and even farther from safety. For these Migrants and refugees, he said that they face imposing physical obstacles and bureaucratic barriers adding that " Sadly, they are also vulnerable to human rights violations and exploitation by human traffickers.Human traffickers prey on the most desperate and vulnerable".

These issues will be central to the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, to be held in New York on 19 September 2016 the UN Secretary General disclosed. This meeting, he explained was aimed among other goals to win renewed commitment for intensified efforts to combat human trafficking and smuggling of migrants and refugees, ensure protection and assistance for the victims of trafficking and of abusive smuggling, as well as all those who suffer human rights violations and abuse in the course of large movements, and promote respect for international law, standards and frameworks.

"I call on every nation, whether country of origin, transit or destination to recognize our shared responsibility. As a first step, we need a strong legal basis for action.

"I encourage all States to adopt and implement the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocol on human trafficking as well as all core international human rights instruments", Mr. Ban Ki-Moon stated.

On the occasion of of this year's World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Secretary General again urged "everyone to recommit to protect, respect and fulfill the human rights of all migrants and refugees. Creating and supporting well-governed, safe and human rights-based migration and asylum procedures will be an important step towards ending the abhorrent practice of profiting from human despair and misery".