During the last session of the UN Human Rights Coucil, held in Geneva last September, IFOR has delivered the following Oral Statement during the General Debate on the report presented by the High Commissioner Ms. Bachelet:
"The International Fellowship of Reconciliation appreciates the call upon States “to address the human rights impact of climate change, including in relation to business activities” and the reminder of “the need for policy coherence – nationally and internationally” .
As highlighted, the consequences of climate change are the reason for many people to leave their homes.
Madam High Commissioner, Excellencies,
The human rights of people on the move are constantly threatened and violated. How can we tolerate caged kids, families divided at borders and shipwrecked survivors refused a place at safety or forced back or deported into areas of conflict, deprivation, discrimination and violation.
We support the call to European States to adopt a more effective coordinated action in the Mediterranean and to end the criminalisation of civil organisations that are carrying out life-saving work in the area and are fined for doing it.
This summer we have witnessed too many rescue boats seeking too long for a safe place to disembark. Sea-Watch 3, Proactiva Open Arms, Mare Jonio [of Mediterranea Saving Humans], Eleonore [of LIFELINE], to mention just some examples [others are Ocean Viking of SOS MEDITERRANEE, Alan Curdi of sea-eye...]
It took the courage of such individuals as Carola Rackete to choose humanity over political propaganda to guarantee safety and human rights for migrants; an act of civil disobedience against a ministerial order contrary to International and Human Rights Law. It took the orders of judges to respect international law and to decriminalize the rescuing of people and to re-establish that under the Law rescue is an obligation and the prohibition on entering domestic waters cannot cancel a humanitarian obligation under the International Conventions."
Watch the live-stream here: http://webtv.un.org/…/item2-general-debate-c…/6085299999001…
(IFOR's statement at 01:50:13)
Read the whole statement by clicking here: