- In an attempt to end abuse against migrants, the International Trade Union Confederation will launch a global campaign on 18 December, to challenge countries to end abuse of migrants by protecting their human rights.
The events which will be held in Cairo, Nairobi, Brussels, Geneva, Kuala Lampur, New York and Paris will kick off activities on all continents to mark the 20th anniversary year of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW) in 1990.
According to ITUC, the campaign will take to the streets and to parliaments the demand that governments act immediately to end the widespread violations of human rights suffered daily by migrants around the world, by ratifying this core UN instrument.
UN estimates show that by 2010, 214 million people will be living outside their countries of birth or citizenship. Nearly half this number, some 95 million according to calculations of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), are economically active as migrant workers. Together with their families, they make up the large majority of all international migrants.
The ITUC statement said most countries experience migration either as origin, destination and/or transit countries.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and coordinator of the global Campaign Steering Committee, Carla Edelenbos said although, for many, migration is a positive experience, many others migrate under duress and face severe hardships.
“Migrant workers all over the world suffer abuse, discrimination and exploitation by traffickers, smugglers and employers. The failure by States to effectively protect migrants against abusive practices demonstrates the urgent need for ratification,” the official said.
The ICRMW provides legal standards for national law that recognises the specific vulnerabilities of migrants and promote humane and lawful working and living conditions.
It provides guidance for migration policies which can only be effective if based on legal standards under the rule of law. Ratification of this convention is seen as vital to combat abuse and exploitation of migrants.
So far 42 states have ratified this Convention since adoption by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990, and another 15 have signed, being the preliminary step to ratification of the convention.
The campaign is launched by the International Steering Committee for the Campaign for Ratification of the Migrants Rights Convention, a unique network of UN agencies, international organisations and global civil society organizations.
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