We, the National Human Rights Institutions (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 to 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 rights-based inclusive of gender, child-centered and disability responsive in the 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.