Ecuador: Migrant rights bill says 'no one is illegal'; Two-thirds back Correa

Ecuador: Migrant rights bill says 'no one is illegal'; Two-thirds back Correa

Monday, July 20, 2015


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Colombian Indigenous refugees in Ecaudor.
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Ecuadorian National Assembly deputy Esteban Melo said that under a new migration bill presented to the Ecuadorian National Assembly on July 16, “No human being will be considered illegal”.

The Organic Law for Human Mobility is designed to respect the principle of universal citizenship and the right of people to migrate, TeleSUR English said that day.

The bill contains provisions to address the needs of refugees and victims of human trafficking. Deputy Ximena Pena said: “For the first time eleven categories of vulnerability of migrants have been identified and based on these, mechanisms of care and protection are established.”

The bill aims to update the country's migration laws, bringing them in line with the 2008 constitution. The constitution, adopted by referendum, was one of the first major achievements of the leftist government of Rafael Correa.

Article 40 of the Constitution says: “The right to migrate of persons is recognised. No human being shall be identified or considered as illegal because of his/her migratory status.” It also details state obligations towards migrants.

More:
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/59550