UN human rights chief urges Europe to accept more migrants

Berlin (AP) — The United Nations’ human rights chief is urging European nations to accept more refugees and to do more to fight prejudice and discrimination against migrants once they arrive.

Zeid Raad al-Hussein told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday that he was “shocked and shamed by the frequent demonization of migrants that we see in many countries whose people benefit from prosperity, peace and ease.”

Zeid said the number of migrants dying in the Mediterranean is “cause for profound alarm” and commended the European Union’s intensified search-and-rescue effort. But he urged “far bolder steps” to push the message that the EU needs and should welcome more migrants of all skill levels.

He urged leaders to “counter the growing bigotry about migrants,” warning it could escalate into violence.