UNITED NATIONS: A United Nations expert has asked the European Union to establish a human rights-based, coherent and comprehensive migration policy which makes mobility its central asset.

“This is the only way in which the EU can reclaim its border, effectively combat smuggling and empower migrants’, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, said on Tuesday.

“Let’s not pretend that what the EU and its member states are doing is working. Migration is here to stay,” Mr Crépeau stressed.

“Building fences, using tear gas and other forms of violence against migrants and asylum seekers, detention, withholding access to basics such as shelter, food or water and using threatening language or hateful speech will not stop migrants from coming or trying to come to Europe”, the UN Special Rapporteur said.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2015

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