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....
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- 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 )
Franciscans International's main activities on migration
- In 2001, during the World Conference Against Racism, Franciscans International successfully advocates for the inclusion of language on migrant workers in the WCAR Plan of Action ;
- At the invitation of members of the Franciscan family in France, Franciscans International intervenes in a Conference in Paris on Les Itinérants dans une société sédentaire: comment vivre ensemble? (Migrants in a sedentary society: How do we live together?)
- In July 2003, Franciscans International participates in events to mark the entry into force of the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and co-signs the International Call for the Universal Ratification of the Convention .
- In September 2003, Franciscans International and the Franciscan family of Spain present a report to the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants during her visit, and is instrumental in organising a meeting in Madrid with faith-based groups and other NGOs.
- In November 2004, Franciscans International conducts a mission to Lebanon to better understand the challenges that Franciscan brothers and sisters face in their ministry with migrants.
- In January 2005, Franciscans International and the Franciscan family of Burkina Faso collaborate with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants during her field mission there by facilitating meetings with the director of the Pastorale des Migrants and providing her with a list of places to visit.
- In April 2005, Franciscans International joins other NGOs in launching the International Platform on the Migrant Workers' Convention and co-signs the Call for European Ratifications of the Migrant Workers Convention . We have also been requested to serve on the Platform's advisory board.
Testimony from the field
Sr. Lily George, FMM
"In Lebanon everybody is very sad about the destruction caused by the tsunami in South Asia and the neighbouring countries. The Government with different NGOs decided to send out the detained migrant prisoners and the migrant workers who are in Lebanon irregularly. So thousands of them are getting ready to go back to their country hoping to come back...but I do not know when. As they are many, and have no documents with them it is very difficult.... It is a pity these poor ones are going to their families without any hope. I have been asked by Caritas to accompany some of the migrants (about 40 of them will be released in a few days) to Delhi as a sign of solidarity."
In 2006 we will:
- Expand our Franciscan network: Secular Franciscans in the French part of Switzerland have expressed an interest in becoming involved in migration issues. Also, we aim to work closely with Franciscans in countries that have ratified the UN Convention on Migrant Workers, mobilizing them to pressure their respective governments to present periodic reports to the UN Migrant Workers Committee.
Animation work that we are developing in Central and Eastern Europe will also inform Franciscans of our migration programme as those brothers and sisters live in countries from which hundreds of thousands of migrants originate and/or transition though. Finally, due to our consolidated relationship with the Franciscans in Lebanon, we hope to expand our work also to neighboring countries in the Middle East.
- Play a key role in the NGOs International Platform on the Migrant Workers Convention.
- Contribute to the September 2006 General Assembly high-level session on Migration and Development.
- Engage in advocacy at the UN, including:
- support for the Commission on Human Rights' Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants,
- organising informal discussions with diplomats, international organisations and NGOs;
- influencing the drafting of resolutions;
- issuing written and oral statements reflecting the work carried out by Franciscans at the grassroots level;
- providing input to the Migrant Workers Committee.
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
 FI
Statements on Migration at the United Nations:
Franciscans International, as an NGO with General Consultative
Status with the Economic and Social Council, delivers
official written and oral interventions before United
Nations forums in New York and Geneva, Switzerland. Listed
below are Franciscans International statements on Migration:
2006
"Segment 3: International Migration and Development – Challenges for social economic policies in sending and receiving countries
." An oral statement presented at the
General Assembly Informal Interactive Hearings on International Migration and Development. (2006-07-12)
2005
"Point 4 b) ii) Droit des travailleurs migrants, y compris les travailleurs domestiques (France)." An oral statement presented at the
Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (30th session) 2005. (2005-06-08)
"Summary Report." A written statement presented at the
Commission on Human Rights (61st Session) 2005. (2005-04-22)
"Agenda item 14: Specific groups and individuals - Human Rights of Migrants & Contemporary Forms of Slavery
." An oral statement presented at the
same meeting. (2005-04-12)
"Agenda Item 7: The Right to Development
(oral statement)." An oral statement presented at the
same meeting. (2005-03-22)
"Franciscans International's Position Paper on the 61st Session of the Comission on Human Rights. ." A written statement presented at the
same meeting. (2005-02-19)
2004
"FI Position Paper for the Commission on Human Rights." A written statement presented at the
United Nations,
Commission on Human Rights,
60th Session, UN Geneva,
15 March – 23 April 2004, . (2004-03-26)
"The migration and trafficking nexus
(written statement)." An oral statement presented at the
same meeting. (2004-03-26)
"Oral Intervention for the Commission for Social Development –
on International Migration and Public Sector Effectiveness.
February 3, 2004." An oral statement presented at the
42nd Commission for Social Development. (2004-02-17)
2003
"UN Commission on Human Rights, 59th Session, UN Geneva (17 March – 25 April 2003)
REPORT." A summary of our interventions at the
UN Commission on Human Rights,
Fifty-ninth Session. (2003-08-11)
2002
"Summary Report on the Work of FI at the UNCHR 58TH Session (2002), Part I." A summary of our interventions at the
UN Commission on Human Rights, Fifty-eighth Session. (2002-11-19)
"Summary Report on the Work of FI at the UNCHR 58TH Session (2002), Part II." A summary of our interventions at the
same meeting. (2002-11-19)
2000
"Summary of Our Interventions Concerning Migrants." A summary of our interventions at the
UN Commission on Human Rights, Fifty-sixth session. (2000-03-20)
"Item 14: Migrants Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Migrants and Trafficked Women and Children in Europe ." An oral statement presented at the
UN Commission on Human Rights, Fifty-sixth session. (2000-03-20)
"In Brief:
Our Contributions to the Works & Deliberations of the Commission 2000." A summary of our interventions at the
UN Commission on Human Rights, Fifty-sixth session. (2000-03-20)
1999
"Article 9: Human Rights Violations in Any Part of the World." An oral statement presented at the
UN Commission on Human Rights, Fifty-fifth session. (1999-03-22)
"Item 14: Violations of the Human Rights of the Internally Displaced Population in Colombia, and in Barrancabemeja in 1998 in particular.." A written statement presented at the
same meeting. (1999-03-22)
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FI News on Migration:
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