The Migrant Workers' Convention is a formula for social cohesion.  In short, the rights and obligations found therein work because they greatly reflect the profound dignity of the human being, the dignity of his or her labour and the dignity of families and societies everywhere.

In the same spirit as moving beyond the overly negative views of migration, States this year take a new look at the Convention, seeing the positive, reasonable elements it offers.  Among others, the Convention is explicit in stating that migrants have obligations as well as rights.  Contrary to many myths, the it contains reasonable limits on a number of the rights it describes, saying that the national laws decide the extent of certain rights--including social security.

The Convention also devotes three full articles to the fight against irregular migration and human trafficking and smuggling, as well as to reducing abuses of workers and national laws by employers and recruitment agencies. Increasingly, States, as well as international organisations, are observing that the one thing that truly links migration and development is a respect for the basic rights of migrants.

Rights migration and development (368.85 KB)