A declaration entitled “Mobility and human solidarity, a challenge and an opportunity for Europe and the MENA region” has been adopted today on the occasion of the 2017 International Migrants Day.
Nineteen co-signatories representing international organizations, NGOs, centres of excellence, think tanks and global spokespersons from the Arab region and the West have united their voices in calling for increased cooperation and coordination between global decision-makers to address the adverse impact of the refugee and migrant crisis.
This declaration was debated during the concluding session of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue’s (hereinafter “The Geneva Centre”) panel debate held on 14 December 2017 at the United Nations Office in Geneva on the theme of “Migration and human solidarity, a challenge and an opportunity for Europe and the MENA region.” The conference included renowned spokespersons from IOM, UNHCR, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the International Catholic Migration Commission, the Sovereign Order of Malta, the European Centre for Peace and Development and the Geneva Centre.
The 2017 Geneva Declaration has been signed by the following signatories:
– (1) H. E. Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim, Chairman of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue;
– (2) H. E. Ambassador Idriss Jazairy, Executive Director of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue;
– (3) Monsignor Robert J. Vitillo, Secretary General of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC);
– (4) Dr. Roberto Savio, Founder and President Emeritus of Inter Press Service (IPS). Director for International Relations of the European Centre for Peace and Development;
– (5) H. E. Ambassador Marie-Thérèse Pictet-Althann, Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta;
– (6) Dr. Alfred de Zayas, United Nations Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order;
– (7) Mr. Edouard Rodier, Director of the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Europe Office (NRC);
– (8) H. E. Ambassador George Papadatos, Head of the European Public Law Mission in Geneva;
– (9) Mr. Ramesh Jaura, President of the Global Cooperation Council and the Director General Chief Editor of the International Press Syndicate;
– (10) Mr. Halle Jørn Hanssen, journalist and author based in Norway;
– (11) Mr. David Koros, Director of the African Centre Against Torture (ACAT);
– (12) Dr. Oreste Foppiani, Head of the Department of International Relations and Associate Professor of International History & Politics at Webster University;
– (13) Ms. Ngoneh Panneh, Founder and President of Citizens United Switzerland;
– (14) Prof. Dr Negoslav P. Ostojić, Executive Director of the ECPD UN University for Peace;
– (15) Ms. Samar Muhareb, CEO of Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development;
– (16) Reverend Mike Deeb, Permanent Delegate of the Dominican Order to the United Nations;
– (17) Dr. Ibrahima Guissé, CEO of Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme (RADDHO);
– (18) Mr. Joseph Désiré Zebaze, National Coordinator of the Cameroon Network of Human Rights Organizations;
– (19) Mr. Manou Nabara Hamidou, President of Jeunesse-Enfance-Migration-Développement (JMED);
– (20) Mr Raimondo Schiavone, President of the Arab Italian Centre for the Mediterranean;
– (21) Mr. Hacen Mohammedi, President of Solidascension;
– (22) Mr. Deen Gibril, President of the Mahatma Gandhi Human Rights Organisation.
The objective of this declaration is to highlight that States and decision-makers in the Arab region and the West are morally and legally bound to enhance human mobility. It behoves them to respond with a unified voice to the tragedy of those millions of people on the move in in the Middle East and North Africa region.
It also calls upon all States to contribute to the realization of the Global Compact on Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees. The declaration notes inter alia that all member States of the United Nations must contribute to the realization of a common framework to respond to the plight of migrants and refugees.
The Geneva Centre’s Executive Director commended the adoption of the joint declaration on the occasion of the 2017 International Migrants Day. “The declaration is a symbol of unity” – he said – “of the efforts of decision-makers from the Arab region and the West to identify joint solutions to the refugee and migrant crisis.
The declaration can be downloaded at:
2017 Mobility and Human Solidarity Geneva Declaration
Year of publication: December, 2017