Introduction

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Migration


Studies and reports continue to highlight the global character of international migration. Increasingly, migrant workers - documented and undocumented - become victims of a broad range of human rights abuses by various actors during the migration process. The growing prominence of International Migrant's Day (18 December), as well as the large number of conferences and publications dedicated to this subject, demonstrates that migration is now centre stage. Whilst this trend is generally positive, vigilance is needed to ensure that migration policies and practices are framed within a rights-based approach.

The UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (MWC)

Franciscans International is actively engaged in campaigning for the ratification of the MWC, the first legally-binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights for all migrant workers and members of their families. The Convention, which entered into force on 1 July 2003, has only received 34 ratifications to date. The need for mobilization is therefore urgent. Why?

 

The Convention....

    Photo credited to IRIN
  • Bridges the gap in protection due to the situation of vulnerability in which migrant workers and members of their families frequently find themselves.
  • Views migrant workers as people: more than mere labourers or economic entities.
  • Provides, for the first time, clear international definitions of 'the migrant worker', categories of migrant workers, and members of their families.
  • Guarantees minimum universal human rights standards for all migrant workers, both documented and undocumented. Further, rights are extended to documented migrant workers and members of their families, notably in the equality of treatment with nationals, and in employment in a number of areas.
  • Promotes inter-state collaboration to prevent and eliminate exploitation, and sanctions for violence against migrant workers or members of their families.
  • Encourages states to ensure their legislation matches recognised international standards.

Key Figures

  • Migrants are on the increase: Between 1980 and 2000, the number of migrants in developed countries more than doubled, from 48 to 110 million, while the number of migrants in developing countries grew from 52 to 65 million.
  • Gender dimensions in migration: In 2000, the number of migrant women exceeded for the first time the number of migrant men in Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Oceania, Europe and the former Soviet Union. In Africa and Asia, migrant men were in the majority.
  • Asia has the large number of migrants with irregular status (without papers): up to 20 million in India alone. Between 10 and 15 per cent of Europe's 56 million migrants have irregular status, and every year, half a million undocumented migrants arrive in the European Union.
  • The annual value of formally transferred remittances (money migrants send back to their home country) in 2004 was about $150 billion, a 50 per cent increase in just five years.

The leading recipients of remittances in 2004 were Mexico ($16 billion), India ($9.9 billion) and the Philippines ($8.5 billion), although remittances as a share of GDP are much higher in smaller countries such as Jordan (23 per cent), Lesotho (27 per cent) and Tonga (37 per cent).

(Source: Migration in an interconnected world: new directions for action, 2005 Report of the Global Commission on International Migration )

 

Resources

 

How can I help?

  • Find out your country's position on the UN Convention on Migrant Workers and send a letter to politicians;
  • Keep us informed of cases where migrants' rights are not respected. You can use this questionnaire;
  • Be aware of the latest developments on migration issues, by visiting the December 18 website regularly. This site provides updated news in different languages at the international, regional and national level;
  • Celebrate International Migrant's Day on 18 December with migrants living in your area.

 

FI Publications

2005

A Guide for non-governmental organizations on the implementation of the UN Migrant Workers' Convention - prepared by the International NGO Platform on the Migrant Workers' Convention   

Quelle protection pour les travailleurs migrants au Liban? 

2004

Understanding instruments for the protection of the rights of migrant workers