International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of
All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/48
The Commission on Human Rights,
Reaffirming that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood,
Considering the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nations to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and freedoms,
Guided by the basic instruments regarding the international protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and reaffirming the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Bearing in mind the principles and standards established within the framework of the International Labour Organization and the importance of the work done in connection with migrant workers and members of their families in other specialized agencies and in various United Nations bodies,
Aware of the marked increase in migratory movements that has occurred, especially in certain parts of the world,
Deeply concerned at the grave situation of vulnerability of migrant workers and members of their families,
Recalling the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium Declaration to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in all societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance,
Reiterating that, despite the existence of an established body of principles and norms, there is an urgent need worldwide to make further efforts to improve the situation of and to guarantee respect for the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers and members of their families,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990, by which the Assembly adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, contained in the annex to the resolution,
Considering that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted in June 1993 by the World Conference on Human Rights (A/CONF.157/23), urges all States to guarantee the protection of all migrant workers and their families and invites them to consider the possibility of signing and ratifying the Convention at the earliest possible time,
1. Acknowledges with appreciation the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on 1 July 2003;
2. Welcomes the signing or ratification of or accession to the Convention by some States and takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention (E/CN.4/2003/80);
3. Calls again upon all States that have not yet done so to consider seriously signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to convene the initial meeting of States parties to the Convention;
5. Also requests the Secretary-General to make all the necessary provisions for the timely establishment of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families referred to in article 72 of the Convention;
6. Calls upon States parties to the Convention to submit in due time their first periodic report requested by article 73 of the Convention;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all facilities and assistance necessary for the active promotion of the Convention, through the World Public Information Campaign for Human Rights and the programme of advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights;
8. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants in relation to the Convention and encourages her to persevere in this endeavour;
9. Also welcomes the increasing activities of the global campaign for the entry into force of the Convention and invites organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to continue and intensify their efforts with a view to disseminating information on the Convention and promoting understanding of the importance of the Convention;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission at its sixtieth session on the status of the Convention and on the efforts made by the Secretariat to promote the Convention and the protection of the rights of migrant workers;
11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the agenda sub-item entitled "Specific groups and individuals: migrant workers".
23 April 2003
Source:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
http://www.unhchr.ch
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