In UC Davis Law Talk, UN High Commissioner Bachelet Addresses Migration Issues
On April 5, UC Davis Law hosted a virtual discussion by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, who discussed migration and human rights.
“Migration policies can mean the difference between life and death,” Bachelet told a virtual audience of King Hall students, faculty, staff and alumni. “It is for this reason that they must be based on human rights.”
Instead, many countries seemingly have based their policies almost entirely on border security. Pandemic-era decisions heightened this effect, Bachelet pointed out.
“Border closures or tightened border restrictions have undermined the right to asylum or due process guarantees” for migrants, Bachelet said.
Bachelet applauded efforts in countries that border Venezuela, and more recently, those bordering Ukraine, to provide safe shelter to migrants who have been compelled to leave their homes. But elsewhere, “tens of thousands of adults and children are detained arbitrarily simply because they choose to exercise their rights to move safely,” she said.
“Unmistakably, there is room for the international community to do much more to ensure dignity and safety for all migrants no matter where they come from,” Bachelet said. “My office is working closely with (nations), … human rights organizations and human rights defenders to help build better migration policies. Policies that can close the vast and unjust protection gaps millions of migrants face.”
“Systems that identify and respond to migrant-specific needs are systems that will ensure human rights can be enjoyed by all,” Bachelet said.
Dean Kevin R. Johnson, Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and internationally renowned immigration scholar, moderated the event, which was presented by the law school’s California International Law Center.
Associate Dean for International Programs and CILC Director Beth Greenwood hosted the event, and Dr. Jorge Rojas, CILC visiting fellow and Universidad de Chile visiting professor, served as co-host.
CILC presented a virtual event in March with former Chilean President Dr. Ricardo Lagos. High Commissioner Bachelet also is a former president of Chile.
CILC fosters the work of UC Davis School of Law’s faculty, students, and alumni in international, comparative, and transnational law to enhance California’s role as a global actor.