Migration and human rights: the need for principled oversight

Migration and human rights: the need for principled oversight

Published April 17, 2026

Forced migration remains one of the most pressing human rights challenges. Ongoing conflicts continue to displace persons, often placing them in vulnerable and uncertain conditions while exposing them to risks that test the limits of protection systems.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, has publicly highlighted that the scale of human suffering linked to migration is matched by the complexity of policy responses. Practices such as pushbacks at borders, fast track asylum procedures, and inadequate reception conditions raise serious concerns, particularly where they risk falling short of fundamental human rights standards.

Where human rights are involved, they cannot be subject to compromise. The protection of persons, especially those who are most vulnerable and often overlooked, must remain a central priority for institutions entrusted with safeguarding rights and ensuring accountability.

At European Union level, the New Pact on Migration and Asylum aims to introduce a more structured and coordinated system. Its objectives include stronger border management, faster procedures, and a more equitable sharing of responsibilities among Member States. The shift from a fragmented and crisis driven approach to a more predictable framework represents a significant development.

However, the effectiveness of this framework will depend on its implementation. The balance it seeks to achieve must not come at the expense of fundamental rights. The real measure of success will lie in its ability to ensure both fair responsibility sharing and the effective protection of those seeking refuge.

These reflections were highlighted by the Ombudsman in a broader address on human rights and oversight during a high-level conference commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Ombudsman Institution of the Republic of Kosovo last December.

Read the full speech here.