Global efforts needed to address migrants’ rights: Shahriar Alam

Bangladesh called for enhanced global solidarity to address gaps in migrants' rights and their protection.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam made the call at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday (May 18, 2022).

He was speaking at Roundtable-4 of the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) at the UN as a panellist.

The state minister stressed the need for improving cooperation among governments, humanitarian actors, consulates, and UN agencies to save lives and reduce risks and vulnerabilities for migrants during their journeys, including those caught up in situations of crisis.

Highlighting the contributions of migrants to the socio-economic progress of their host countries as well as their countries of origin, the state minister urged to step up efforts from all stakeholders and UN Network on migration to ensure synergistic implementation of the Global Compact on Migration and 2030 Agenda on the ground.

He also put a sharp spotlight on rising racism, xenophobia, misinformation, stigmatisation, and intolerance against migrants.

The state minister is leading a high-level Bangladesh delegation to the forum. He is also holding important bilateral meetings with the heads of delegations of many other member states to discuss issues of mutual interest, including Bangladesh's candidature for the Human Rights Council election for 2023-25.

The four-day International Migration Review Forum will conclude on May 10, 2022 with the adoption of a Progress Declaration.

The Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, Ambassador Rabab Fatima, and the Permanent Representative of Luxembourg, Ambassador Oliver Maes, were appointed by the President of the UN General Assembly to co-facilitate the declaration, which will be adopted at the closing session of the forum.