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 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.