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Comments of the Center for Migration Studies (CMS) and the Scalabrinian International Migration Network (SIMN) on Revision 3 of the Outcome Document for 19th<\/span>\u00a0September 2016 High-Level Meeting on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants<\/strong><\/p>\n July 28, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the third revised draft of the outcome document. Our comments primarily will focus upon where the document potentially\u00a0weakens<\/em>\u00a0protections for refugees and migrants.<\/p>\n We offer the following language to paragraph 1.13, at the appropriate place:<\/p>\n \u201cWe deplore attempts to cast all bona fide refugees as threats to security in an effort to fan the flames of xenophobia and to undermine attempts to offer them protection and safe haven.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n In the comprehensive refugee response framework (revision 2), we support the suggested addition by civil society of the following language in Section 5, paragraph 7:<\/p>\n After \u201chost country\u201d insert:\u00a0 \u201c, being mindful not to bolster xenophobic and discriminatory attitudes and actions.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cConsistent with our obligations under international human rights law and international refugee law,\u00a0<\/strong>we will strengthen international border management cooperation, including in relation to training and the exchange of best practices.\u00a0 We will intensify support in this area,\u00a0including in the area of refugee protection,\u00a0<\/strong>and help build capacity, as appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n Absent this mitigating language, we believe the sentence beginning, \u201cWe will strengthen international border management\u201d combined with the following sentence ending with \u201cto build capacity, as appropriate\u201d sanctions the externalization of borders without corresponding human rights and refugee protections.<\/p>\n Please add,\u00a0and alter\u00a0<\/strong>to the first sentence, to read:<\/p>\n \u2026.we will review\u00a0and alter\u00a0<\/strong>policies that criminalize cross-border movements\u2026..<\/p>\n In the second sentence, add\u00a0community and rights-based\u00a0<\/strong>before \u201calternatives to detention\u201d to read:<\/p>\n We will also pursue\u00a0community and rights-based\u00a0<\/strong>alternatives to detention while these assessments are underway.<\/p>\n We oppose the sentence, \u201cFurthermore, recognizing that detention is never in the best interests of children, we commit to the earliest possible ending of this practice.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 The sentence allows the detention of children to continue unmitigated.<\/p>\n We would replace with the following:<\/p>\n Furthermore, recognizing that detention is never in the best interests of children, we commit to not using this practice moving forward<\/strong><\/p>\n Add at the end of paragraph 3.6:<\/p>\n Remittances should be viewed as a supplement to, not a replacement for, humanitarian assistance, initiatives to promote sustainable economic development, and national policies designed to increase job opportunities for low-skilled and low-income workers and families.<\/strong><\/p>\n Add\u00a0ensuring their protection and social inclusion in their new countries<\/strong>\u00a0after \u201cthird countries\u201d, to read:<\/p>\n We intend to expand the number and range of legal pathways available for refugees to be admitted to, or resettled in, third countries, ensuring their protection and social inclusion in their new countries.<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last sentence of 4.14, eliminate\u00a0and other legal pathways<\/strong>\u00a0and add at the end of the sentence,\u00a0, totaling no less than 10 percent of the refugee population worldwide,\u00a0<\/strong>to read:<\/p>\n We are setting as a target the provision of resettlement places for admission on a scale which would enable the annual resettlement needs identified by UNHCR to be met,\u00a0totaling no less than 10 percent of the refugee population worldwide.<\/strong><\/p>\n Eliminate\u00a0will have access\u00a0<\/strong>to in the last sentence of 4.7 and add\u00a0have received,\u00a0<\/strong>to read:<\/p>\n At the same time, we recognize that refugees\u2019 ability to lodge asylum claims in the country of their choice may be regulated subject to the safeguard that they\u00a0have received<\/strong>\u00a0protection elsewhere.<\/p>\n 7.<\/strong>We support the addition of language in paragraph 3.16 to promote regularization programs for irregular migrants in host countries.<\/strong><\/p>\n Add at the end of paragraph 3.16:<\/p>\n We support and encourage the adoption of regularization programs in host countries that provide migrants with permanent status and opportunities for naturalization.<\/strong><\/p>\n Finally, we support calls from civil society and others for an operational framework for the comprehensive refugee response annex within a year and a road map for the adoption of a Global Compact on Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration.\u00a0 We also support the public statement of civil society organizations released July 28, entitled \u201cWorld Leaders must step up efforts to robust and principled deal for refugees and migrants.\u201d<\/p>\n Thank you for the opportunity to provide our input.<\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Comments of the Center for Migration Studies (CMS) and the Scalabrinian International Migration Network (SIMN) on Revision 3 of the Outcome Document for 19th\u00a0September 2016 High-Level Meeting on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants July 28, 2016 Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the third revised draft of the outcome document. Our comments […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":657,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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