From OHCHR
GENEVA (21 May 2015) – A group of United Nations human rights experts welcomed the Malaysian, Indonesian and Thai leaders’ decision not to pushback migrants and asylum seekers arriving in their territorial waters. They also urged the international community to assist the countries affected by supporting financially and materially their efforts to protect the human rights of all migrants.
“This is an important and welcome step forward in recognition of the need to protect the right to life for all, regardless of their status,” said the UN Special Rapporteurs on migrants, François Crépeau; on trafficking in persons, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro; on torture, Juan E. Méndez; and on summary executions, Christof Heyns. “Saving lives must remain a priority.”
 
“Pushbacks conducted against migrants and asylum seekers which may also include victims of trafficking are never a good option. They only end up perpetuating the suffering of children, women and men who are already risking death for a better life,” they stressed.

The independent experts noted that allowing migrants and asylum seekers to disembark reinforces the commitment of these three countries to their international human rights obligations. Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to offer shelter to 7000 asylum seekers and migrants stranded at sea. 

“Once rescued, asylum seekers and migrants should be received in open centers offering adequate accommodation facilities and, where necessary, have access to medical care,” they said.

“All those rescued should be individually assessed to establish their protection needs and ensure that the principle of non-refoulement is upheld by the three countries concerned, and that no person is returned to a State, where she or he might be in danger of being subjected to torture. Potential victims of trafficking, especially women and children need to be diligently identified, assisted and protected from revictimisation,” the experts stressed.

Next month, the Special Rapporteur on migrants will present reports on European Union border management and on his visit to Italy and Malta to the UN Human Rights Council. At the same session, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons will present a report on the issues that she intends to focus on in the course of her tenure including further exploration between the link of mixed migration flows and trafficking.

ENDS

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

Learn more, log on to:
Migrants: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Migration/SRMigrants/Pages/SRMigrantsIndex.aspx
Trafficking in persons: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Trafficking/Pages/TraffickingIndex.aspx 
Torture: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Torture/SRTorture/Pages/SRTortureIndex.aspx
Summary executions: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Executions/Pages/SRExecutionsIndex.aspx
 
Read the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CMW.aspx 

For more information and media requests, please contact:
Elizabeth Wabuge (+41 79 201 0122 / [email protected]) or write to [email protected]  

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / [email protected])   

UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitednationshumanrights  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/UNrightswire  
Google+ gplus.to/unitednationshumanrights    
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR  
Storify:        http://storify.com/UNrightswire 

Check the Universal Human Rights Index: http://uhri.ohchr.org/en