The Lisbon Forum 2016 on migration and human rights, organised by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe, took place on 24-25 November 2016. One of the participants, Mr Mohamed Hannan from Disabled Peoples’ International Europe gave the following testimony:
“The Council of Europe’s principles are on non-discrimination and human rights, encouraging also the protection of the rights of migrants, refugees and displaced people. It was my great opportunity to have experiences both as a beneficiary (migrant with disabilities) and as a contributor (representative of Disabled Peoples’ International Europe) working with the Council of Europe’s EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement projects on ‘Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness and Response‘ and on ’Migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees in the context of natural and technological hazards’.
Having these experiences gives me further opportunities to continue to advance this vital issue ‘Migrants with Disabilities‘ as a human rights issue. For this reason, I was participating in the Lisbon Forum 2016 on Migration and human rights on 24-25 November 2016. This is an another occasion to share the issue of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers with disabilities facing challenges, encouraging other stakeholders to protect human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers with disabilities with slogans such as ‘Migrants rights are Human Rights’, ‘Disabled Peoples Rights are Human rights’. Migrants are not just beneficiaries, but also participants with skills and capacities, contributing to the host society. And it allowed me to invite multi-stakeholders to contribute to ‘more inclusive societies’ and ‘no one left behind’ practices. I explained how disabled people’s organisations and their representatives could value their important expertise with their living experiences for a more inclusive approach to ensure human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers with disabilities.”
The most vulnerable groups need special protection of their rights taking into account their physical and psychological specificities in order to help them cope better with disasters. The European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA) contributes to this aim by developing both policy recommendations and practical solutions to improve the resilience and preparedness of vulnerable groups.