UN human rights commissioner Mrs Mary Robinson today voiced concern about rising xenophobia and unwillingness in Europe to welcome refugees and asylum seekers in the wake of the September attacks on the United States.
"I am seeing rising xenophobia in different parts of the world," Mrs Robinson told a conference arranged by the Danish Centre for Human Rights.
"Speaking in broad terms I am concerned about a 'Fortress Europe' with less willingness to receive refugees and asylum seekers after September 11th," she said.
The commissioner said countries like India, Pakistan, Iran and many African countries had let in vast numbers of refugees from neighbouring countries suffering from war.
"We need to look again at the situation in our part of the world," Mrs Robinson said.
With no specific reference to Denmark, which earlier today presented a new right-wing government with tighter rules on immigrants and a cut in development aid on its programme, Mrs Robinson said it was not the time for cutting back on aid to developing countries.