GENEVA, Oct 14 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The United Nations (UN) top official for refugees called on governments on Monday to abandon restrictive border controls aimed at stopping migration, describing such measures as both 'ineffective' and contrary to international obligations, Anadolu Agency reported.
“By the time refugees and migrants reach them, governments are under political pressure to make reactive decisions. Reflexively, they focus on controls,” Filippo Grandi said at the annual United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) meeting in Geneva.
“On preventing people from moving. On schemes that outsource, externalise, or even suspend asylum, breaching international legal obligations. And frankly, these measures are ineffective”
"You might then ask: what can be done? For a start, do not focus only on your borders," Grandi said.
Grandi urged governments to shift their focus to the underlying causes driving migration, advocating for proactive strategies to address migration at its source.
He highlighted the importance of measures such as legal stay and regularisation programmes, as well as expanding legal pathways for migrants and refugees.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
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