http://assembly.coe.int Doc. 13788 07 May 2015 Criminalisation of irregular migrants: a crime without a victim Report1 Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons Rapporteur: Mr Ionuț-Marian STROE, Romania, Group of the European People's Party Summary Migration is increasingly associated with threats to public order. In addition, inappropriate use of the terminology relating to migration plays a large part in fuelling xenophobic and racist attitudes and heightening the fear of migrants. Increasing incrimination of migrants undoubtedly has repercussions on their living conditions, whether they are regular or irregular migrants, affecting them in the employment field as well as in their everyday lives. This criminalisation of migrants facilitates and even to some extent legitimises the adoption of migration policies which are more and more under the sway of a security-dominated rationale. Governments should adopt a more objective approach towards migrants, observe fundamental rights standards, in particular by combating disinformation and negative stereotypes concerning migrants, and condemn the exploitation of migrants for political purposes. 1. Reference to committee: Doc. 13165, Reference 3955 of 26 April 2013. F - 67075 Strasbourg Cedex |
[email protected] | Tel: +33 3 88 41 2000 | Fax: +33 3 88 41 2733 Doc. 13788 Report Contents Page A. Draft resolution ........................................................................................................................................ 3 B. Explanatory memorandum by Mr