UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

59^th session

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Migrants

20 June 2025

EU statement

Thank you Mr President,

The European Union thanks the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his report.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for bringing attention to the topic of migrants subjected to enforced disappearances – a topic which needs more attention, especially given its multiple causes affecting a range of human rights.

The EU expresses its concern about the increasing number of enforced disappearances, including in the context of migration. The EU welcomes the first World Congress on Enforced disappearances and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to make progress on the elimination of enforced disappearances, building on its achievements. This includes ensuring a victim-centred approach to justice and accountability.

We agree with the Special Rapporteur that addressing this phenomenon is a shared responsibility of countries of origin, transit and destination. Unsafe and irregular migration pathways, smuggling of migrants, instrumentalization of migrants for political purposes and trafficking in human beings exacerbate risks of human rights violations and abuses en route for people on the move. The EU and its Member States are committed to doing more to prevent people from embarking on unsafe journeys, from falling victim to the false promises. Notably, EU support to search and rescue capacities of partner countries has aimed to save lives and reduce harm. The Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling, launched in November 2023, works inter alia at preventing and at supporting alternatives to irregular migration.

The report notes that migrants going missing or being subjected to disappearance, including enforced disappearance, can be attributed to various factors, including criminal actions of migrant smugglers and human traffickers, who treat migrants as mere commodities for profit, but also the lack of safe, orderly and regular migration pathways. The EU will continue to offer opportunities for legal pathways to migration, while fully respecting national competencies.

The EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum puts forward a comprehensive approach for a sustainable migration and asylum system, based on upholding human rights, including the right to seek asylum, and with mechanisms to monitor compliance with human rights.

The EU is actively working to provide support to strengthen the capacity of states, civil society and UN partners to implement the human rights-based approach focusing on persons in vulnerable situations, including migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced and stateless persons in line with international human rights obligations under international law and standards, and through existing policy and legislative frameworks.

Mr. Special Rapporteur,

How can a better collection of data regarding this phenomenon be ensured globally?

Thank you.