Rabat Declaration on Health of Refugees and Migrants' Reaffirms Centrality of Refugee Registration as International Protection Measure

Rabat, 15/06/2023 (MAP) - Participants at the 3rd Global Consultation on the Health of Refugees and Migrants, held from June 13 to 15 in Rabat, reaffirmed the centrality of refugee registration as a measure of international protection.

In the "Rabat Declaration" adopted at the Consultation, they reaffirmed the centrality of refugee registration to protecting the integrity of refugee health and social protection systems.

The centrality of refugee registration and census, it should be recalled, is confirmed by numerous resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, as well as by several recommendations of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

It is undeniable that host countries have an obligation to ensure the protection of refugee populations on their territory, by authorizing the UNHCR to carry out their census and registration, without preconditions.

The political dimension must in no way be seen as an obstacle to the proper registration, in accordance with international standards, of people in need of international protection, as is the case for refugees and migrants.

The "Rabat Declaration" once again confirms the position defended by Morocco and its advocacy of the importance of registration and census of refugee populations as a measure of international protection, in line with the relevant international conventions.

Organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration, the 3rd Global Consultation on the Health of Refugees and Migrants, the first of its kind in an Arab and African country, was attended by a large number of WHO member states.