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National
Statement, 2002
List
of organizational endorsements for statement
NATIONAL
STATEMENT FOR DECEMBER 18, 2002
INTERNATIONAL
MIGRANTS DAY
Today, on
December 18, 2002, in observance of the third United
Nations International Migrants Day, we stand together
to call upon the U.S. government to uphold the human
rights of all immigrants and refugees. December 18 is
a day to recognize the huge contribution that migrants
make to all countries of our world. Migration is a growing,
global phenomenon, and there are over 175 million migrants
living, working, and building communities in places
outside their country of origin. Migration policies
and practices, however, often fail to protect the human
rights of migrants, and in many cases, abuse migrants’
human rights.
We call for
an immigration policy built on the principles of dignity,
justice, and equality that uphold the civil and human
rights of all people, regardless of their race, religion,
ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation,
disability, immigration or citizenship status. We call
on the global community, including the United States,
to ratify the UN International Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of
Their Families, which establishes a comprehensive framework
to uphold the rights of migrants.
One year
and three months after the devastating events of September
11, we continue to witness the devastating effects of
fear, racism, and xenophobia on our immigrant and refugee
communities. Immigrants and refugees continue to be
the specific targets of intensified law enforcement
and public scapegoating in the name of national security.
Law enforcement continues to use immigration procedures
in the name of anti-terrorism, denying the most basic
of civil and human rights protections to non-citizens.
Immigration has become further criminalized as the U.S.
government has entrusted immigration enforcement to
the Department of Homeland Security, an agency that
leaves little chance for equal protection or due process
of immigrants.
We believe
that the U.S. must fulfill its commitment to uphold
the human rights of all members of our country and globe.
As part of the international human rights community,
we decry the death, displacement and the creation of
new migrant and refugee populations as a result of U.S.
foreign policy in Afghanistan, and object to further
military operations in Iraq that would result in human
rights violations. Security for all means a commitment
to the protection of all communities to live free of
fear, racism, and xenophobia, and the support for human
rights of all communities.
If your organization
would like to endorse this statement, fill out this
endorsement form, and email to echo@nnirr.org
Read
LION's Organizational Statement 2002
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Migrant
Rights are Human Rights!