Freedom of movement

This article is about the right to travel. For the mechanical concept, see Range of motion.
"Free movement of persons" redirects here. For the freedom of movement within the European Union, see Freedom of movement for workers in the European Union and European Single Market.

Freedom of movement, mobility rights, or the right to travel is a human rights concept encompassing the right of individuals to travel from place to place within the territory of a country,[1] and to leave the country and return to it. The right includes not only visiting places, but changing the place where the individual resides or works.[1][2]

Such a right is provided in the constitutions of numerous states, and in documents reflecting norms of international law. For example, Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that:

  • "Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state."
  • "Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country."[3]

Some people and organizations advocate an extension of the freedom of movement to include a freedom of movement – or migration – between the countries as well as within the countries.[4][5] The freedom of movement is restricted in a variety of ways by various governments and may even vary within the territory of a single country.[1] Such restrictions are generally based on public health, order, or safety justifications and postulate that the right to these conditions preempts the notion of freedom of movement.[6]

  1. ^ a b c Jérémiee Gilbert, Nomadic Peoples and Human Rights (2014), p. 73: "Freedom of movement within a country encompasses both the right to travel freely within the territory of the State and the right to relocate oneself and to choose one's place of residence".
  2. ^ Kees Groenendijk, Elspeth Guild, and Sergio Carrera, Illiberal Liberal States: Immigration, Citizenship and Integration in the EU (2013), p. 206: "[F]reedom of movement did not only amount to the right to travel freely, to take up residence and to work, but also involved the enjoyment of a legal status characterised by security of residence, the right to family reunification and the right to be treated equally with nationals".
  3. ^ "Universal Declaration of Human Rights".
  4. ^ "Libertarians say: Let the immigrant children in". 8 July 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Why Should We Restrict Immigration?" (PDF). Open Borders. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).