‘Multilateral framework needed to deal with migration’

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led the launching of the ‘Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health at the UN headquarters in New York last month. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar

By Joey AguilarStaff ReporterThe absence of a multilateral framework to deal with migration has remained one of the biggest problems in addressing the current exodus from crisis-hit countries, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres has said.“There is a multilateral framework to deal with refugees namely the 1951 Refugee Convention, the creation of UNHCR, but there is no multilateral framework to deal with migration,” he told reporters at the UN Foundations 2015 Global Issues Press Fellowship in New York last month.Guterres said a multilateral approach for migration should be in place. But for the moment, “it should be dealt only through national sovereignty and maximum international co-operation.”The UN official was answering a question if the newly-adopted Sustainable Development Goals can address the logistics in implementing new migration policies.UNHCR had earlier reiterated that only a united European emergency response can address the present refugee and migration crisis. In a statement, it pointed out that individual measures by individual countries will not solve the problem “but will make an already chaotic situation worse.”Guterres admitted that he has more confidence with the civil society than the international community in dealing with countries which lack the political will to help integrate and resettle refugees.He cited civil society’s enormous movement in welcoming refugees and putting pressures on governments to open borders and receive them while “instruments of the international community are limited.”UNHCR earlier called on Hungarian authorities to allow people in need of protection to enter their border in line with its legal and moral obligations. But the European country has recently set up restrictive measures that limit the entry of refugees.“States should manage their borders in a way that is consistent with International and EU Law, including guaranteeing the right to seek asylum,” Guterres said.However, UNHCR was saddened by reports that only a few asylum-seekers had been given access to Hungary while Syrian refugees were also prevented from entering European borders using water cannons and tear gas.About addressing migration and refugee crisis in other regions, Guterres said they are looking for possible solutions to help other refugees (including Somalis and Afghans) in Africa and Pakistan. “All our African programmes are dramatically underfunded,” he noted. “What happens to Africa now tends to be forgotten by the international community compared with what is happening in the Middle East especially in the last event that took place with refugees moving into Europe.”Meanwhile, the UN official lauded the US civil society for making a “strong request” for an increase resettlement programme of up to 100,000 refugees mostly from Syria.Australia also responded positively on the present crisis by creating 20,000 new resettlement opportunities. The UNHCR official described it as “a very generous resettlement programme.”Australia also contributed financially to support the Syrian military operation, according to Guterres.A former political refugee and a goodwil  ambassador shared his experience and the challenges when he came to the US in the 90s.“When you come to this country and then having those experiences it can break you,” he said. “To rebuild yourself, you have to find a welcoming condition, and that was what I was given when I came here.” “When I am watching a lot of refugees leaving their countries, it is not a choice for them and they need to be given the opportunity just like me,” he added. “Many of us came here in the US and then we find our way later on. It’s a good thing that I came at a very early age so I adapt very quickly.”