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18 December 2000
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15 December 2000
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Gabriela Rodriguez, today urged countries to give the "final push" that would ensure the entry into force of the International Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.
Marking the first International Migrants Day, the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur termed the abuse of the human rights of the 97 million migrant workers and their family members around the world "a major international problem".
"The proclamation on 4 December of International Migrants Day by the United Nations General Assembly is welcome recognition, at long last, that the problems of migrant workers deserve serious international attention", they said. "Despite the tremendous contributions they make in their host countries, migrant workers are often subject to the most horrendous treatment because they are foreigners or because they happen to be in a precarious situation".
The High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur said the status of ratification of the migrants' Convention was indicative of the priority previously accorded to the problems of that vulnerable group. Although adopted in 1990, the treaty still has not obtained the required ratification by 20 countries that would allow it to enter into force. The situation has improved recently and today only five more ratifications are needed. The Convention is expected to garner those signatures in early 2001.
Recalling that the international community is stepping up preparations for the World Conference against Racism, set to take place in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001, the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur urged the countries that have signed but still not ratified the Convention to do so as quickly as possible. "Let us give that final push so that we may strengthen the protection migrant workers so badly need", they said.
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United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Gabriela Rodriguez, today urged countries to give the "final push" that would ensure the entry into force of the International Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.
Marking the first International Migrants Day, the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur termed the abuse of the human rights of the 97 million migrant workers and their family members around the world "a major international problem".
"The proclamation on 4 December of International Migrants Day by the United Nations General Assembly is welcome recognition, at long last, that the problems of migrant workers deserve serious international attention", they said. "Despite the tremendous contributions they make in their host countries, migrant workers are often subject to the most horrendous treatment because they are foreigners or because they happen to be in a precarious situation".
The High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur said the status of ratification of the migrants' Convention was indicative of the priority previously accorded to the problems of that vulnerable group. Although adopted in 1990, the treaty still has not obtained the required ratification by 20 countries that would allow it to enter into force. The situation has improved recently and today only five more ratifications are needed. The Convention is expected to garner those signatures in early 2001.
Recalling that the international community is stepping up preparations for the World Conference against Racism, set to take place in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001, the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur urged the countries that have signed but still not ratified the Convention to do so as quickly as possible. "Let us give that final push so that we may strengthen the protection migrant workers so badly need", they said.
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