Joint statement on protection of migrants along the Southern migration route
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission
The Kenya National Commission for Human Rights
The Mozambican Human Rights Commission
The Zambian Human Rights Commission
we, the NHRIs of states in the Southern migratory route, held in person and virtual consultations
on the situation of cross-border migration in the Southern corridor;
Aware that our respective states are countries of origin, transit and destination for regular and
irregular migration;
Emphasizing that effects of conflicts and climate change, the rising securitization of migration,
limited economic and livelihood opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa and bureaucratic regular
migration pathways are pushing migrants towards pursuing more dangerous routes;
Deeply concerned by the grave protection risks migrants face in cross border irregular migration
including exploitation, human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, arbitrary detention,
violence and discrimination;
Cognizant of the mixed migration patterns and increasingly close intersection between asylum,
migrant smuggling and human trafficking with inadequate regional frameworks and enforcement
of existing ones.;
Encouraged by the efforts of global, continental and regional actors in putting human rights at
the center of migration governance;
Inspired by the focus of the Global Compact on Migration in promoting safe, orderly and regular
Migration with a component on respecting, protecting and fulfilling the human rights of all
migrants.
Cognizant of NHRIs central role in monitoring abuses, documenting violations, advising
governments, and shaping rights-based migration governance across the region;
In celebrating the International Migrants Day on this day of 18th December, 2025; and in
responding to the challenges in cross-border irregular migration along the Southern route, we:
Agree to create and strengthen platforms to enhance cooperation and dialogue on protection of
migrants in states of origin, transit and destination along the Southern Corridor;
Reaffirm our commitment to strengthen meaningful engagements with migrants and key
stakeholders, in exercise of the NHRIs mandate, document their lived experiences, violations,
with a view of recommending appropriate redress and issue reports to relevant authorities in line
with the theme of the 2025 international migrants’ day- ‘My great stories: cultures and
development’ dedicated for migrants’;
Therefore, we the NHRIs working group on migration within the southern corridor routes: -
Call upon the National governments to adopt human rights-based approach in migration
governance, ratify and implement the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of
All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and faithfully implement the Global
Compact for Migration and relevant continental frameworks;
Urge Member States to form and expand bilateral and multilateral agreements including bilateral
labor agreements that are right based inclusive of gender, child centered and disability responsive
in management of migration in our respective countries. This will strengthen access to and the
right to asylum for migrants fleeing persecution, eradicate human trafficking, combat migrant
smuggling and end statelessness.
Urge continental human rights systems, regional economic blocks and key actors to increase the
NHRIs engagement in migration policy and lawmaking processes and accelerate policy and legal
initiatives on free movement of people;
Reiterate, that Member States have legal obligation to uphold human rights for everyone outlined
in their respective National laws, Continental and Global human rights frameworks.
Issued in commemoration of the international migrants day December 18, 2025.