Migrants endure increasing violence and discrimination, says UN rights expert

November 10, 2007 by News Editor

Migrants are increasingly subject to violence and discrimination, from prolonged detention to ill-treatment from authorities, in countries of both destination and transit, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants said today.

Jorge Bustamante told the General Assembly’s third committee (social, humanitarian and cultural issues) that his field visits during the past year have confirmed the rising attacks and other pressures that migrants are enduring.

“I received numerous reports of repeated cases of the detention of non-citizens, many times unlawfully for long periods,” he said in his statement to the committee. “A number of detained migrants suffer from ill-treatment, lack of medical attention, and abuse. Often, they lack access to justice, as many detained migrants are not granted access to lawyers for their defence.”

Full story: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=24441&Cr=human&Cr1=rights

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