People on the move
An increasing number of people are forced to leave their homes due to a combination of factors, including poverty, lack of access to health care, education, food, water and housing, environmental degradation and climate change, as well as persecution and conflict. While migration can be a positive experience, many people on the move face human rights violations in transit, at borders and in destination countries. These violations often stem from the absence of human rights-based migration governance and are frequently linked to discriminatory laws, prejudice, and xenophobia.
UN Human Rights works to promote, protect and fulfil the human rights of all people on the move, regardless of their status, with a particular focus on those in vulnerable and marginalized situations. The Office promotes a human rights-based approach to migration that places people on the move at the centre of migration policies and governance, and supports their inclusion in national action plans and strategies, including efforts to combat racism and xenophobia.
Our work on People on the Move
The UN Human Rights Europe Office works with the European Union and its Member States to promote and protect the human rights of people on the move along migration routes to Europe, including in countries of origin and transit.
UN Human Rights Europe monitors developments at EU and regional level and engages with EU institutions and bodies to support the integration of international human rights standards into migration governance, including EU asylum and migration laws and policies.
Our work in this area focuses on the following priorities:
- Promoting a human rights-based approach to EU migration governance and international cooperation
- Supporting the human rights-based implementation of EU legislation, including the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration
- Strengthening accountability in EU border governance
- Promoting positive narratives on migration and an enabling environment for solidarity
