For Your Information
Rights of migrant workers and members of their families
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.
Why support the Convention?
The convention and its ratification is backed by the international community and key organizations that are working to ensure that migrants across the world have laws that protect them.
The articles stated in the convention, would have to be adopted as part of the country's national laws and practices, which means the change in the current discriminatory laws and practices. The migrants would have a system to support them in illegal or abusive employment and the state would provide them adequate and appropriate help.
Finally, the success of the campaign is grounded in its purpose being adopted and promoted by hundreds of organizations and people who may or may not be formally affiliated to the campaign.
Source: Migrant Rights.
