Open Letter to members of the Caribbean Community regarding a rights-based regional approach for the protection of Haitian migrants and refugees – Petchary’s Blog

People displaced from their homes amid the violence take shelter at a school in Port-au-Prince on Friday. (Photo: Odelyn Joseph/Associated Press)

 

In light of the foregoing, we urge CARICOM states to reform their asylum procedures and adopt a rights-based response to Haitians fleeing persecution, with strict adherence to the principle of nonrefoulement and the rule of law. This entails a requirement to establish effective procedures for the individualised assessment of protection needs and exclusion considerations that may arise in individual claims.

In addition, under the banner #WithHaitianRefugees, we call upon CARICOM – with the support of the international community and multi-stakeholder groups – to establish a rights-based regional approach to ensure the protection of Haitians on the move in the Caribbean, in line with their international obligations and principles of humanitarian assistance, protection, cooperation, and international solidarity.

In particular, we call for region-wide action based on four main pillars:

  1. Full and inclusive implementation of the Refugee Convention, including through the suspension of forced returns in accordance with UN non-return advisories;
  2. Access to territory and efficient asylum procedures; 3. Solidarity and shared responsibility; and

4. Durable solutions…

Source: Open Letter to members of the Caribbean Community regarding a rights-based regional approach for the protection of Haitian migrants and refugees – Petchary’s Blog