UN Human Rights Commissioner Special Rapporteur on Climate Change Report on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change report
Forced To Flee Advocacy Statement
28 June 2023
28 June 2023
Forced To Flee wholeheartedly welcomes the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, by Mr Ian Fry.
The Report outlines that 22.3 million people out of the 38 million forcibly displaced were displaced due to “weather-related” events in 2021. The Report also highlighted that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol does not account for those displaced due to climate change (Para 1). Thus, the Special Rapporteur says “it would seem logical to establish a new protocol under the Convention to give protection to persons displaced across international borders due to climate change” (Para 68), and further recommends the Human Rights Council to make a recommendation to the General Assembly to begin the process of giving legal protection to persons displaced across international borders due to climate change (Para 71 (a)).
Forced To Flee also further endorses the Special Rapporteur’s proposed interim measure and joins the call for all Member States to “develop national legislation that provides humanitarian visas for persons displaced across international borders due to climate change” (Para 68).
The Special Rapporteur’s Report highlights that the work is not over yet. This Report is merely the beginning of a very long road before climate refugees become internationally recognised and protected. The number of which is only going to increase if action is not taken to prevent root causes.
We look forward to working with Member States, partners, civil society and activists around the world to make these recommendations a reality to protect the 20+ million climate refugees globally.
#RecogniseClimateRefugees.
The Report outlines that 22.3 million people out of the 38 million forcibly displaced were displaced due to “weather-related” events in 2021. The Report also highlighted that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol does not account for those displaced due to climate change (Para 1). Thus, the Special Rapporteur says “it would seem logical to establish a new protocol under the Convention to give protection to persons displaced across international borders due to climate change” (Para 68), and further recommends the Human Rights Council to make a recommendation to the General Assembly to begin the process of giving legal protection to persons displaced across international borders due to climate change (Para 71 (a)).
Forced To Flee also further endorses the Special Rapporteur’s proposed interim measure and joins the call for all Member States to “develop national legislation that provides humanitarian visas for persons displaced across international borders due to climate change” (Para 68).
The Special Rapporteur’s Report highlights that the work is not over yet. This Report is merely the beginning of a very long road before climate refugees become internationally recognised and protected. The number of which is only going to increase if action is not taken to prevent root causes.
We look forward to working with Member States, partners, civil society and activists around the world to make these recommendations a reality to protect the 20+ million climate refugees globally.
#RecogniseClimateRefugees.
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