19 September 2016
United Nations Member States, including Australia, unanimously adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, an historical act which demonstrates a global commitment to the protection of rights for refugees and migrants, and begins a dialogue about effective measures to achieve that protection. 
By adopting the New York Declaration, Member States are making bold commitments including: to start negotiations leading to an international conference and the adoption of a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration in 2018; to develop guidelines on the treatment of migrants in vulnerable situations; to achieve a more equitable sharing of the burden and responsibility for hosting and supporting the world’s refugees by adopting a global compact on refugees in 2018.
ACHRE applauds the New York Declaration and the commitment made by the Australian Government, represented by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton, to what the Summit describes as a “watershed moment to strengthen governance of international migration and a unique opportunity for creating a more responsible, predictable system for responding to large movements of refugees and migrants.”
In particular, ACHRE welcomes paragraph 2.18 of the New York Declaration which includes, among others, a commitment to “take measures to improve [refugees’ and migrants’] integration and inclusion, as appropriate, and with particular reference to access to education, healthcare, access to justice and language training. We recognize that these measures will reduce the risks of marginalization and radicalization.”
For the latest statements and more information on the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants: https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/summit
View the full text of the New York Declaration: https://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/08/HLM-on-addressing-large-movements-of-refugees-and-migrants-Draft-Declaration-5-August-2016.pdf.