Welcome to the United Nations
Contribution to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in response to a call for inputs by the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)
19th April 2018
1. An assessment of the situation regarding the principle of “ensuring that no one is left behind” at the global level
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW; hereafter “the Committee”) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families by its State parties (hereafter “the Convention”). The Convention is a comprehensive international treaty focusing on the protection of migrant workers’ rights. It emphasizes the link between migration and human rights – a human and social phenomenon that is drawing increasing attention worldwide.
The Committee is aware that the respect and promotion of rights of migrant workers and members of their families contributes to resilient and sustainable societies, in which migrant workers and their families are valued and protected members of society.
The framework of protection set out in the Convention
Entered into force on 1 July 2003, the Convention opens a new chapter in the history of determining the rights of migrant workers and ensuring that those rights are protected and respected. It sets standards for the laws and the judicial and administrative procedures of individual States. Governments of States that ratify or accede to the Convention undertake to apply its provisions by adopting the necessary measures. They also undertake to ensure that migrant workers whose rights have been violated may seek an effective remedy.
Non-discrimination as a key principle of the Convention
Art. 1 (1) and Art. 7 of the Convention prohibit “distinction of any kind such as to sex, race, colour, language, religion or conviction, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, nationality, age, economic position, property, marital status, birth or other status”. It hereby defines non-discrimination as one of the key principles of the Convention.
Migration and the principle of “ensuring that no one is left behind”
From Art 1(1) and Art 7 follows a clear commitment by the Convention to the principle of “ensuring that no one is left behind”. While migration remains a much discussed topic, some groups and individuals associated with migration, such as migrants in transit, in irregular situations and family members of migrants who stay in countries of origin, receive insufficient attention. Overall, migrants remain less well protected than nationals of transit countries and countries of destination. Hereby, particularly the rights of
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women migrant workers, including domestic workers, and migrant children require positive action by governments to protect their rights...
