PH Mission in NY Initiates Joint Statement to Support Migrants during COVID-19 Pandemic

NEW YORK 15 June 2020 – The Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York, together with the Permanent Missions of Bangladesh, Benin, El Salvador, Fiji, Ireland, Mexico, Morocco and Portugal, launched an initiative to issue a Joint Statement on the Impact of COVID-19 on Migrants. The Joint Statement was supported by a total of 103 Member and Observer States of the United Nations. It was transmitted to the United Nations Secretary-General on 12 June 2020. 

The Joint Statement acknowledges that migrants face specific challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a variety of factors, including limited local knowledge and networks, xenophobia, discrimination, lack of access to health and related services, and exclusion in host countries' responses to the pandemic. It recognizes that many countries rely on migrant medical and health personnel as front-line workers and migrant workers are among the most vulnerable and high-risk groups during the pandemic.

It urges States to protect and promote the human rights of migrants, regardless of migration status, including by providing them access to life-saving health and essential services. It also calls on States to abide by the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel in the recruitment of migrant health professionals, amidst increasing demand for health workers globally.

It also welcomes the Secretary-General’s Policy Brief on COVID19 and People on the Move as well as the Secretary-General’s Report titled Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19.

The Joint Statement calls upon States to incorporate the health needs of migrants in national and local health care policies and plans, and to show greater solidarity during these trying times to enhance the protection, well-being, safe return and effective reintegration into labor markets of migrant workers.

Click https://www.un.int/philippines/statements_speeches/joint-statement-impact-covid-19-migrants  for a copy of the Joint Statement. END

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.