Human Rights Council - 29th Regular Session
Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on migrants and the Special Rapporteur on minority issues
Australian Statement
15 June 2015
Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur on minority issues for her report.
Australia also thanks the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants for the report on the EU’s border management and its impact on the human rights of migrants. It highlights the scale of the challenges that the EU – and other regions – are facing, and the suffering of migrants travelling irregularly by sea.
We acknowledge the importance of a comprehensive and coordinated approach to managing migration, and note the report’s recommendations cover important aspects such as: the need for detailed analyses; coordinated search and rescue measures; and the development and promotion of regular migration channels.
Australia recognises the need to work in the space of connected borders and global networks to minimise risk and encourage well-governed migration. Australia values the economic and social contributions of migrants, and believes that managed migration is a core element of a country’s successful economic and social development.
But robust control of borders remains critical: to breaking the criminal people smuggling syndicates; saving lives at sea; and enhancing the fairness, accountability and integrity of countries’ migration programmes.
It is also critical to maintaining public confidence in – and support for – migration programmes.
We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s views on how countries can best build public confidence in their planned migration programs.