Last week, Thursday, March 10 at the 31st regular session of the Human Rights Council was held the traditional interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Jordanian Prince Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein.
During the dialogue with the member states, Italy's delegation intervened in the debate (download here the intervention) asking strongly an approach to migration based on solidarity and responsibility-sharing and promoting - suggesting as good practice - the humanitarian corridors, created recently between Italy and Lebanon that have already led to the Syrian refugees to travel safely getting, even before the start, a permit on the basis of ' art. 25 of the Visa Code European Union.
The next day Friday, March 11 always in the Room XX of the UN Palace in Geneva was presented by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights the report A / HRC / 31/35 focused on the situation of migrants in transit, the document very precisely photograph the situation of migrants in transit and the countless violations of human rights suffered in transit and destination countries.
In the interactive dialogue that followed, the ICMC (International Catholic Migration Commission - NGO specialized in assisting migrants and refugees) took the word to promote the humanitarian channel model created between Lebanon and Italy as a current example of possible solution for the migrants tragedy. the ICMC has directly cited the APG23 who collaborated in this important humanitarian initiative of the humanitarian corridors.
Specifying as it's necessary to strengthen the protection of persons and not the borders or barriers, the ICMC reaffirmed that the right to seek asylum, the principle of non-refoulement and the prohibition of collective expulsions are cardinal principles of international law and of the system of human rights, at European level too.
Similarly, given the failure of current immigration policies, the ICMC suggested to evaluate new solutions that start from a shared approach that sees States, international agencies and civil society involved together.
It was already done in the past when, in the 80s and 90s, a "Comprehensive Plan of Action" had allowed 2.5 million refugees from Indochina region to migrate safely and legally.
This can be done today by opening humanitarian corridors as well as it was made between Italy and Lebanon with an example of concrete migration choice that respects the dignity of people who migrate, and that could easily be replicated by other European country.
The intervention ICMC that you can find it here in its entirety, was also prepared by the work of Anna and Beatrice, two "White Helmets" who are doing their Civil International Service in Geneva, in the ICMC offices.
More information of the work of APG23 in Geneva here.