23 October 2012 - Over 70 million people are forced migrants - more than one in every 100 of the world's citizens - displaced by conflict, political upheaval, violence and disasters but also by climate change and development projects, according to the World Disasters Report 2012 of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Of these, some 50 million irregular migrants are believed to have used the services of smugglers at some stage of their journey, says the UN Development Programme.
This was the subject of a side event in Vienna last week during the Sixth Session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). In order to enhance international cooperation against this complex phenomenon, UNODC has signed memoranda of understanding with IFRC, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration.
Many migrants move voluntarily, seeking better economic opportunities and different lifestyles. Others, such as refugees and asylum seekers, are forced to flee from conflict, repression or persecution. Forced migrants often confront life-threatening dangers in transit and exploitation and abuse upon reaching their destinations. They may be extorted, beaten or raped, which in turn can give rise to public health risks such as drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.
The Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Airsupplementing UNTOC defines migrant smuggling as the facilitation of illegal border crossings or of illegal residence in a country with the aim of making a financial or other material profit. At the Conference of Parties, Member States passed a resolution to strengthen support for the Protocol, of which UNODC is the guardian.
