Meeting of the Parliament 13 December 2016
I am honoured to be here today to acknowledge international migrants day 2016, which takes place this Sunday. The United Nations encourages us to mark the day by sharing information on the rights and freedoms of migrants and by designing actions to ensure their protection.
Today, I hope not only to acknowledge the rights of migrants and Scotland’s duty to offer a place of protection and safety, but to send a warm message of welcome to all those who choose to make Scotland their home. That message of welcome extends to everyone who comes to Scotland from other countries, whether they are seeking asylum and refuge, choosing to work or study here, or joining family. The motion therefore uses the word “migrant” in its widest sense.
We must remember that all those people are individuals, with their own stories and their own sets of circumstances. I want to mark international migrants day by highlighting the valuable contribution that migrants make to Scotland’s economy and the vibrancy that they bring to our society and culture.
Following the European Union referendum, it is more important than ever that we stand up against negative rhetoric surrounding immigration and strive to provide a welcoming and tolerant society for migrants in Scotland. I am sure that members from all round the chamber will join me in recognising Scotland’s moral obligation to offer a place of safety to desperate people who are fleeing conflict and persecution.
It is with great sadness that I note the increasing number of fatalities in the Mediterranean since the beginning of 2016. The number of people who have tragically lost their lives this year in the Mediterranean while attempting to escape conflict or destitution has risen to 4,690. That is 1,225 more people than this time last year. Such numbers, which are used so frequently to describe the size and scale of human tragedies, tend to strip away the humanity from and, subsequently, the devastation that is caused by each individual death.
Let me put the number in context: 4,690 is equivalent to about 17 per cent of my constituency’s population. That number includes men, women and children who were not fortunate enough to experience peace and a decent standard of living in their native countries. Let us remember those brave and courageous people today and focus on how we can support measures to ensure that migrants and refugees are protected in the future.