Mexico urges protection of migrants in statement to General Assembly

Mexico today urged all United Nations Member States to ratify the international convention that calls for the protection of the rights of migrant workers and their families, deploring what it described as a global tendency to criminalize international migration.

“Legislative initiatives and actions singling out minorities in different countries unacceptably codify racism and xenophobia, establishing new barriers between communities and nations,” Claude Heller, Mexico’s Permanent Representative to the UN, said in his statement to the high-level debate of the General Assembly. “This is inadmissible,” he added.

He said migration was a reality of the modern world and cannot be ignored by the UN.

“The migratory phenomenon should be addressed through a holistic approach which recognizes the contribution of migrants both to the countries of origin and destination, among other factors,” Mr. Heller said.

He said that Mexico will in November host the 4th International Forum on Migration and Development and that the outcome of the conference will be presented to the General Assembly.

Referring to the challenges posed by the problem of drug trafficking and organized crime in his country, Mr. Heller said that Mexico had re-established State authority in areas where impunity had prevailed.

“The fight implies a strong investment of resources and, unfortunately, it also represented the loss of lives,” he said. “The cost is high, but it would be even higher for our society if the authority of the State remained impassive in the face of violence, corruption and the impunity that comes with them.”

“Compliance with international commitments in the area of drug trafficking is indispensable to put an end to this challenge,” Mr. Heller added.