The UN and other Key Organizations have always been aware of the importance and extent of the migration phenomenon, which involves millions of people and affects a large number of States in the world.
Considering this and the situation of vulnerability, in which these migrants frequently find themselves on account of their employment states in foreign countries, the international community is convinced of the need to bring about international protection of the rights of all migrant workers and their families, reaffirming and establishing basic norms in a convention which could be applied universally.
On 18th December 1990, at the United Nations, General Assembly ‘The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all migrant workers and members of their families’ was adopted. This later entered into force on the 1st July, 2003.
This Convention firmly establishes the rights of all those persons (including families who accompany them) who are currently engaged or will engage in employment in a country of which they are not a national, (i.e, migrant.)
Within the framework of employment or otherwise the convention states the migrants’ and their family’s economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.
It also looks at the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, against all migrants but in particular against women and the rights of children.
It clearly states the rights of migrants in abusive conditions and works towards the promotion of equality of opportunity and better treatment. It states the rights of migrants in situations of forced or compulsory labour and works towards its total abolition.
Why is Ratification of the convention Necessary?
The need for stronger protection of the rights of migrants was felt throughout the world and this was the driving forces that lead to the adoption of the Convention by the UN. Now this convention must be implemented through national ratification and legislation.
For the convention to ‘ enter into force”, twenty UN member states must ratify the convention and so far nineteen states have now acceded to the convention: Azerbaijan, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sri Lanka Tajikistan, Uganda and Uruguay.
Eleven states have signed the Convention, which is a step towards ratification: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Chile, Comoros, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Paraguay, Sao Tome & Principe, Sierra Leone, Togo and Turkey.
Governments all over the world have to be convinced that ratification of the Convention is necessary. This secures the rights of migrants on an international base.
Organisations that support this Convention and are members of the Steering Committee.
International Catholic Migration Commission
International Trade Union Confederation
International Labour Office
International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism
International Organization for Migration
Migrant Forum in Asia
Migrants Rights International
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Public Services International
UNESCO
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Why do we support the Convention?
What we need to do to strengthen the campaign?
Read the “International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families”
If you are a…
-NGO Proprietor / Representative
-Charity Organization
-Government Representative
-Religious Representative
-Diplomat
-Lawyer
-Activist
-Reporter/Editor
Or just interested in the campaign …. We would like to hear from you!
GET INVOLVED!
Join, Collaborate, or Network with us and the International Community in the campaign for the protection of Migrant Rights!
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March 8, 2011
We support the ratification of the convention on the protection of the migrant workers and their family members.
April 19, 2011
you guys are doing Gods work…..please tell me how I can help,…..i am trying to spread this…….thank u
April 20, 2011
Thank you for all the work you are doing. So incredibly important. I am currently doing some research on migrants in Lebanon and was wondering if you could give me some information so that I can better understand the lives of these people?
For example:
Typical jobs for women
Typical jobs for men
Do these people live alone/with family/ with other migrants?
Typical reasons for leaving their native countries to find work in Lebanon.
Religious beliefs?
Any more information that you think is typical, such as what an average day in the life of an immigrant is would just give me a little more background information.
I hope you don’t mind me contacting you. Any information you can give me would be really appreciated.
Many thanks,
Abbie Sharp
August 7, 2011
Commendable effort! Unfortunately, things that were hidden in the darkness have been pushed further away from any possibility of light. If you dig deep, you would know, nothing has really changed. Hope it does, some day!