17/12/2014 President
“2014 has been another deadly year for migrants in the Mediterranean. According to UNHCR data, at least 207,000 people since January have embarked on risky journeys in search of a better life, while 3,400 have reputedly died in their attempt to reach Europe,” said Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), speaking on the eve of International Migrants Day (18th December).
“As UNHCR and others remind us, behind the statistics of those rescued or lost at sea are individual stories of human tragedy. I want to remember today all those who lost their lives and struggled in these fatal journeys.
Council of Europe member States must display more solidarity with front-line countries, and should work together towards immigrants’ integration and inclusion.
I regret that many today use discriminatory and offensive language against migrants, in particular the word ‘illegal’ when referring to migrants without documents. This term stigmatises migrants as illegitimate and criminal, denies them dignity and undermines social cohesion.
Today I would therefore like to give my wholehearted support to the PICUM campaign ‘words matter’, which seeks to end the use of such terminology, and to invite member States to use more accurate and neutral terms when referring to immigrants, as laid out also in PACE Resolution 1509 (2006).”