A/HRC/50/31
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
26 April 2022
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Fiftieth session
13 June–8 July 2022
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Human rights violations at international borders: trends,
prevention and accountability
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants,
Felipe González Morales
Summary
The present report, submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution
43/6, provides an account of the activities of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights
of migrants, Felipe González Morales, since the submission of his report to the General
Assembly at its seventy-sixth session.1 It also provides a thematic study on human rights
violations at international borders, focusing on trends, prevention and accountability.
As a follow-up to his previous report to the Human Rights Council,2 in the present
report, the Special Rapporteur examines recent developments in migration and border
governance affecting the human rights of migrants. He analyses the regrettable trend of
the legitimization of pushback practices through the introduction of legislation and
government executive orders and discusses the application of safe third country concepts
and readmission agreements at land borders and at sea. The report also takes note of recent
positive developments with regard to ensuring accountability for pushbacks.
The Special Rapporteur concludes that pushbacks remain the de facto general
policy in many States and continue to seriously impede the enjoyment of the human rights
of migrants who cross international borders.
1
2
A/76/257.
A/HRC/47/30.
GE.22-06194(E)