Are migrants and refugees on dangerous border crossings able to enjoy their right to life, liberty and security of person? Are asylum seekers and refugees permitted to exercise their right to access and claim asylum in a safe third country? What is being done to ensure that those who have had their basic right to freedom from torture and cruel and inhuman treatment violated over the course of their journey receive the psychosocial and legal support they need upon arrival?

Many NGOs and other organisations working on the ground will say no – too many are not able to enjoy their right to life and security, too few are able to access countries of asylum and too little is being done to provide first aid, recovery and referral assistance to vulnerable victims of violence and trauma upon arrival. As a result, some have suggested recently that perhaps a new legal framework is needed to define the rights of those who survive particularly treacherous border crossings.

Thanks to the Declaration and other rights frameworks inspired by and built upon it, however, we would do well to recall that we have sixty plus years of wisdom and a collection of legal tools to effectively protect migrants and refugees in these situations – if only we ensure their application and implementation.

A question of implementation.pdf (403.52 KB)