A/RES/51/62
Page 2
Recognizing that socio-economic factors influence the problem of the
smuggling of aliens and also contribute to the complexity of current
international migration,
Reaffirming respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all
States, including their right to control their own borders,
Recalling the undertaking of States parties to the Supplementary
Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and
Practices Similar to Slavery,1 signed at Geneva on 7 September 1956, to take
all practicable and necessary legislative and other measures to bring about
progressively and as soon as possible the complete abolition or abandonment of
the practice of debt bondage,
Convinced of the need to provide humane treatment and protect the full
human rights of migrants,
Concerned that the smuggling of aliens undermines public confidence in
policies and procedures for immigration and for the protection of refugees,
Taking into account the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, the
International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime
Organization in responding to the requests from States for assistance in
dealing with the smuggling of aliens,
Emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and, in
particular, the need for States to cooperate urgently at the bilateral and
multilateral levels, as appropriate, to thwart these activities,
1.
Condemns the practice of smuggling aliens in violation of
international and national law or other agreements between States and without
regard for the safety, well-being and human rights of the migrants;
2.
Commends those States which have cooperated to combat alien
smuggling and to respond to specific incidents in which smuggled aliens have
needed to be dealt with according to international standards and the domestic
laws and procedures of the States concerned and returned safely to appropriate
destinations;
3.
Urges States to take appropriate steps to frustrate the objectives
and activities of smugglers of aliens and thus to protect would-be migrants
from exploitation and loss of life, inter alia, by amending criminal laws, if
necessary, to encompass the smuggling of aliens and by establishing or
improving procedures to permit the ready discovery of false travel documents
supplied by smugglers;
4.
Requests States to cooperate in order to prevent the illegal
transport by smugglers of third-country nationals through their territory;
5.
Also requests States to cooperate bilaterally and on a
multilateral basis to prevent the use of fraudulent documents, to continue to
1
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 266, No. 3822.
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