Statement by India delivered during the 43rd Programme Coordinating Board Meeting of UNAIDS on Agenda Item 1.4 by Dr. Sadre Alam, First Secretary (WHO HQs, 11-13 December, 2018)
Thank you, Madam Chair.
1. We thank the NGO representative for the useful report that brings the valuable perspective of civil society, an important stakeholder, on the issue.
2. Migrants and refugees, especially those elderly, women and children are a vulnerable group needing special attention and care and who cannot be left behind.
3. We broadly support the draft decision but would like to offer few suggestions.
4. As the International Organisation of Migration has no definition of migrants endorsed by Member States through its governing bodies, it would be advisable not to adopt any such definition.
5. As regards the language, we recommend use of standard terms like migrants and refugees in line with the two global compacts and agreed language. We suggest avoidance of terms like people on the move and mobile populations which do not have agreed definitions or even a common understanding.
6. With necessary changes in the proposed decision point, we will be in a position to support it.
Thank you.
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