The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families is a United Nations treaty that aims to protect the rights of migrant workers and their families. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 1990, and entered into force on July 1, 2003.
The convention recognizes that migrant workers and their families often face specific challenges and vulnerabilities due to their status. It sets out a comprehensive framework of rights and protections that states should afford to migrant workers and their families, regardless of their migration status.
Some key provisions of the convention include:
- Non-discrimination: States are required to ensure that migrant workers and their families receive equal treatment and enjoy the same rights as their own nationals.
- Right to life and liberty: Migrant workers and their families should be protected from arbitrary arrest, detention, or expulsion. They should not be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
- Labor rights: Migrant workers should have access to fair and just conditions of work, including fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions, and the right to join trade unions.
- Right to family unity: Migrant workers should have the right to be accompanied by their family members or join them in the country of employment. They should also have the right to protection and assistance in cases of separation from their families.
- Right to access to justice: Migrant workers should have access to effective remedies and justice mechanisms to address violations of their rights.
- Social rights: Migrant workers and their families should have access to social security, healthcare, education, and other public services.
It’s important to note that the convention establishes a framework for the protection of migrant workers and their families, but it is up to each member state to ratify and implement the convention’s provisions into their national laws and policies.
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the convention has been ratified by 56 countries. However, it’s worth checking for updates to see if more countries have joined the convention since then.