Working Session 13: Rights of Migrants II
As prepared for delivery by Harry Kamian,
Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE
Warsaw, September 18, 2018
The United States welcomes these sessions that promote respect for human rights. We note with concern that immigrants continue to undertake perilous journeys from North Africa to Europe and that the percentage of dead or missing from among those who undertake such journeys is increasing.
We support coordinated efforts to address immigration challenges through the development of comprehensive solutions that account for the security needs of all countries and ensure respect for the human rights of all persons.
While it is primarily the responsibility of sovereign states to ensure that immigration is well-managed and consistent with each state’s laws and policies, coordinated regional responses can help address some of the challenges these countries face.
All states should work to strengthen their border security capabilities and enforcement activities, to support the humane return of foreign nationals who are ineligible to remain in host countries and can safely return to their places of origin, to provide relevant protections to those fleeing persecution and torture, and to work together to seek political solutions to conflicts around the world that cause displacement.
