UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the world must treat migrants and refugees as human beings rather than dehumanizing them.
The statement comes as the United Nations warns that legislative shifts in Europe may undermine fundamental human rights protections for displaced people.
Speaking on Saturday, June 27, 2026 [1], Türk focused on the necessity of a human-rights framework to prevent the marginalization of those seeking asylum. He said, "We must see in the other a human being, and not dehumanize migrants and refugees."
Türk said he has deep concern regarding a new migration law adopted by the European Union [2]. According to the High Commissioner, the new legislation could lead to an increase in the detention and deportation of migrants [2].
The UN official said that the legal framework governing migration should not prioritize security measures over the inherent dignity of the individual. He said that the expansion of detention centers and the streamlining of deportation processes could create systemic abuses [2].
This appeal for humanity is part of a broader effort by the UN to ensure that member states adhere to international law during migration crises. Türk said the global community must resist the trend of viewing refugees as threats to be managed, rather than people with rights to be protected.
The High Commissioner's remarks highlight a growing tension between national sovereignty and international human rights obligations within the EU [2].
“"We must see in the other a human being, and not dehumanize migrants and refugees."”
This intervention by the UN High Commissioner signals a critical friction point between the European Union's desire for stricter border control and the international legal obligations to protect refugees. By specifically targeting the new EU migration law, the UN is flagging a potential shift toward more punitive migration management that could challenge existing human rights jurisprudence in Europe.
