UN Committee on Migrant Workers to review Turkey

GENEVA (7 April 2016) – Turkey’s record on protecting the rights of migrant workers is due to be reviewed for the first time by the UN Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers (CMW) on 14 and 15 April in Geneva. Turkey is one of the 48 States Parties to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, and so is required to be reviewed regularly by the Committee. 

Among the possible issues for discussion between the CMW and a delegation from the Turkish Government are:

• Clarification of status and rights granted to refugees who fled their countries outside the Council of Europe, particularly Syria;
• Ensuring human rights of migrant workers crossing borders;
• Implementation of the 18 March 2016 EU-Turkey agreement, including expulsion of migrant workers from Turkey prior to and following the agreement;
• Conditions of detention for migrant workers, including alternatives to detention, especially for children and families
• Protection of migrant children from forced labour and exploitation;
• Access to justice, education and health care for migrant workers and their families; 
• Extent of people smuggling and trafficking; specific laws to criminalise human trafficking, procedures to protect victims;
• Measures to facilitate the right of Turkish workers living abroad to vote;
• Consular services for Turkish migrant workers and their families abroad and efforts to facilitate their safe and sustainable return to Turkey.

The discussions will take place in Room XII at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 14 April from 15:00-18:00 (16:00-19:00 in Turkey) and on 15 April from 10:00-13:00 (11:00-14:00). The Committee will also be briefed by representatives of NGOs, UN bodies and specialised agencies. More information about the review here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1044&Lang=en

The Committee, which is also reviewing Mauritania, Lesotho and Senegal, will publish its findings here on 25 April: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1044&Lang=en

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Liz Throssell - +41 22 917 9466 / ethrossell@ohchr.org

Background

CMW members are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty. More information on the Committee:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CMW/Pages/CMWIndex.aspx

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