General Comments by India on resolution on “The human rights of migrants” Consideration of the draft resolution A/HRC/41/L.7 In the 41^stSession of the Human Rights Council ( 24 June – 12 July 2019), delivered by Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Ambassador/DPR, Permanent Mission of India, (Geneva, 11 July 2019)

Mr. President,

Migration is an inevitable and a predominantly positive phenomenon which powers the global economic engine, helps reduce inequities, connects societies and bridges demographic and human resource gaps. It is also largely regular and orderly. The Sustainable Development Goals recognize migration as one of the core enablers of inclusive and sustainable development and its multi-dimensional reality.

2. There is a clear need to create greater awareness about its positive aspects. It is also important to ensure the safety, dignity and rights of the migrants throughout the migration cycle and make migration a choice. At the same time, we should be fully mindful of the laws, policies and priorities of States and their international obligations, to govern migration and maximize its positive impacts. There should greater efforts towards bringing a humane approach and order to international migration.

 3. The current draft under consideration highlights issues such as respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migration status taking into account national circumstances. We hope the SR on the human rights of migrants would continue working towards identifying best practices, concrete areas and means for international cooperation in order to enhance the protection of the human rights of migrants. We thank the core group for accommodating different perspectives considering the complexity of the issue and hope that the resolution under consideration would be adopted by consensus.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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