UN Expert Urges Global Action to Prevent Disappearance of Migrants in Transit

Gehad Madi, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, delivered a powerful call to action at the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council, urging countries around the world to treat the disappearance of migrants as an urgent and overlooked human rights crisis. His latest report exposed the systemic failures contributing to the tragic loss of thousands of lives every year, particularly along harsh and dangerous migration routes.

“The disappearance of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers is a largely neglected human rights challenge,” Madi stated. “It is time for States to collectively act—those of origin, transit, and destination—to prevent these disappearances and ensure justice for victims and their families.”

Dangerous Routes and Legal Gaps Drive Disappearances

The report outlined a number of interconnected drivers behind migrant disappearances, starting with perilous migration paths through deserts, mountains, or oceans where humanitarian access is minimal or nonexistent. In such environments, migrants often fall victim to dehydration, starvation, exposure, or injury—many dying anonymously and being buried in unmarked graves or left undiscovered.

Another major factor is the conduct of immigration detention and deportation policies, often enacted without adequate procedural safeguards. These include bilateral or multilateral agreements with third countries where migrants are transferred without being guaranteed basic protections or access to legal counsel. In these cases, migrants frequently go missing after transfer, with little trace or accountability.

“Systematic family separations at borders and arbitrary detentions only deepen the risk,” Madi noted. “Pushbacks and collective expulsions conducted without assessing individual protection needs are especially dangerous and often unlawful.”

Smuggling Networks and State Complicity in Abuse

Madi’s report also highlighted the growing role of smuggling and human trafficking operations—many of which are run by transnational criminal networks. Migrants often disappear during these smuggling journeys, with many subjected to extortion, forced labor, or sexual exploitation. In some cases, these operations occur with the knowledge or tacit approval of state actors, further blurring the line between criminal behavior and state responsibility.

“The involvement or acquiescence of some state authorities in the activities of smuggling or trafficking groups is deeply alarming,” Madi said. “This complicity fuels a culture of impunity.”

Human Toll and Institutional Silence

Beyond statistics and policy, Madi drew attention to the deep emotional trauma suffered by families of missing migrants. In many cases, they spend years without any information on the fate or whereabouts of their loved ones. The lack of centralized databases or coordinated international protocols for identification and notification prolongs their suffering.

“The right to truth and justice must be upheld,” he insisted. “Inadequate search and identification mechanisms only deepen families’ anguish.”

Madi criticized the poor quality of statistical reporting on disappearances. Available data, he noted, is fragmented, underreported, and often fails to account for the scale of the crisis. This contributes to a widespread invisibility that allows the problem to persist without meaningful intervention.

A Human Rights-Based Migration Policy Is Needed

To prevent further loss of life and uphold international legal standards, Madi called on States to urgently change course. He warned against the growing trend of criminalizing and militarizing migration, which often results in excessive force, border violence, and sweeping human rights violations.

Instead, the Special Rapporteur urged countries to pursue a rights-centered approach focused on humanitarian principles. Key recommendations in his report include:

• Expanding Safe and Legal Pathways: States must offer more entry options based on humanitarian grounds, including work visas, humanitarian corridors, and family reunification programs.

• Enhancing Humanitarian Support: Increased access to state-provided aid—such as water, medical services, shelter, and legal counseling—along high-risk migration corridors is vital.

• Establishing Monitoring and Truth Mechanisms: These would help investigate past disappearances, provide closure for families, and prevent future violations by documenting patterns of abuse.

Global Cooperation Essential to Address the Crisis

Recognizing the transnational nature of migration, Madi stressed the need for joint international efforts. Countries must create cooperative frameworks that facilitate information sharing, ensure consistent legal protections across borders, and coordinate effective responses to disappearances.

“Complexity is no excuse for inaction,” he concluded. “States cannot escape their obligations to protect migrants simply because of the challenges involved. Accountability, prevention, and compassion must guide our global response.”

Madi’s report is expected to serve as a blueprint for future dialogue and action at both national and international levels, as the global community continues to grapple with unprecedented displacement and migration challenges.