Migratory flows concerning Latin America
Recommendation 1058
(1987)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 8 May 1987 (8th Sitting) (see Docs. 5718Docs. 5718, Doc. 5719,Doc. 5720 and Doc. 5721, reports of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography). Text adopted by the Assembly on 8 May 1987 (8th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
The Assembly,
1. Having taken note of the reports on migratory flows concerning Latin America, submitted by its Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography (
Docs. 5718,
5719,
5720 and
5721) ;
3. Recalling its
Resolution 774 (1982) on Europe and Latin America—The challenge of human rights, which followed the colloquium organised by the Political Affairs Committee and the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography in Madrid in October 1981 ;
4. Welcoming the Colloquium ‘‘Democracy and democratisation : a dialogue between Europe and Latin America'', organised in Strasbourg in June 1986 by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Institute for European-Latin American Relations ;
5. Calling attention to the almost 100 million people of European origin, comprising second- and third-generation migrants, populating Latin America today ;
6. Aware of the fact that more than 5 million European immigrants have retained their original citizenship ;
7. Having noted that migration within Latin America has appreciably increased since 1950 and that, in certain host countries, this has led to the marginalisation of a large number of unskilled migrant workers ;
8. Paying tribute to the work of the many aid societies, often of European origin, which provide social protection for migrants in Latin America ;
9. Seriously concerned at the large number of highly qualified persons migrating from Latin America to the industrialised countries ;
10. Considering that both political instability and dictatorial systems of government have caused successive waves of refugees and exiles to leave Latin America since the early twentieth century ;
11. Stressing that, during the last decade, the deterioration of living standards and widespread violence, especially in Central America, have given rise to a very heavy flow of refugees which has also affected Europe ;
12. Deeply concerned at the living conditions of the refugees accommodated in the various camps in Central America ;
13. Condemning the armed attacks and forced deportations sometimes inflicted on the refugees in these camps ;
14. Deploring the inadequate legal status of children born in these camps, who are deprived of the nationality of the host country and of their country of origin ;
15. Welcoming the return to democracy in Argentina and Uruguay, thanks to which exiles from both countries have been repatriated under the auspices of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Intergovernmental Committee for Migration (ICM) ;
16. Noting, however, that voluntary repatriation is often hindered by numerous problems of a political, economic and social nature, which confront exiles returning to their country of origin ;
17. Concerned about the threats which constantly face the democratic process in Latin America, and which impede its development, and about the total absence of democracy in countries such as Chile and Paraguay,
18. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers :
a Regarding the situation of European migrants in Latin America :
18.1.1 take the educational and cultural needs of second- and third-generation European migrants resident in Latin America into account when implementing activities relating to European citizenship and cultural identity ;
18.1.2 consider the possibility of resorting to the Council of Europe Resettlement Fund in order to help European immigrants by financing housing construction schemes and social service programmes, or by sponsoring co-operative ventures in farming, craft trades and industry ;
18.1.3 take account of the existence of large communities of European migrants in Latin America when studying social change resulting from migration ;
18.1.4 consider the specific problems of European migrants with regard to social protection, repatriation and aid towards resettlement in their country of origin ;
18.1.5 invite the governments of member states to adopt measures designed to solve the nationality problems of second- and third-generation migrants and the difficulties they experience in participating in the democratic life of their countries of origin (eligibility to vote, trade union rights, military service) ;
b As regards migration inside Latin America :
18.2.1 enable Latin American states to benefit from European experience regarding legal instruments for the effective protection of migrant workers ;
18.2.2 engage in active co-operation with Latin American institutions, such as the Andean Pact, which deal with migration questions ;
18.2.3 invite these institutions to send observers to the 4th Conference of European Ministers responsible for Migration Affairs ;
c As regards the situation of refugees in Latin America :
18.3.1 support the efforts of the Contadora countries on behalf of peace and co-operation in Central America, all progress in this field being beneficial to citizens and refugees alike ;
18.3.2 invite the governments of member states :
a to reassert the importance of the principles and recommendations embodied in the Cartagena Declaration of 1984 as a starting point for solving the problems of refugees in Latin America ;
b to take practical steps to encourage the opening of negotiations for peace between all the parties directly or indirectly involved in the Central American conflicts ;
c to examine the possibility of applying sanctions, in particular embargoing arms supplies, in order to bring pressure to bear on Latin American states having dictatorial regimes ;
d to back the efforts of governments of refugees' countries of origin to make arrangements, and provide machinery for the voluntary repatriation of refugees ;
e to increase support for the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with a view to promoting both temporary and permanent solutions to the problems of refugees and asylum-seekers in Latin America, more specifically by increasing their technical and financial contributions to UNHCR's humanitarian aid programmes in matters of refugee aid, voluntary repatriation and settlement in the host country ;
d As regards Latin American migrants and refugees in Europe :
18.4.1 take account of the specific needs of Latin American migrants and refugees, as minority groups in member countries, when implementing activities relating to social changes resulting from migration ;
18.4.2 make arrangements to enable young Latin Americans to participate in certain activities of the European Youth Centre ;
18.4.3 promote the settlement of migrants and refugees in the host country while preserving their cultural identity ;
18.4.4 invite the governments of member states to co-operate actively with the Intergovernmental Committee for Migration (ICM) to facilitate the returnand resettlement of migrants and exiles seeking repatriation ;
18.4.5 consider whether the Council of Europe Resettlement Fund could provide assistance in favour of initiatives with regard to the repatriation of migrants and refugees from Latin America ;
18.4.6 encourage bilateral trade between the Latin American and European democracies on the basis of a genuine partnership.
