Introduction
Today, migration is a worldwide and intra- and inter-regional phenomenon accompanied by an increase in the violation of the human rights of the people concerned. Throughout the migration cycle, migrant workers and their families are victims of a wide range of human rights abuses. Some examples are: inadequate conditions of work, sexual abuse of women migrant workers, expulsion and arbitrary detention of irregular migrants, including unaccompanied children, difficulties with accessing social and economic rights, illegal recruitment practices, ill-treatment, inadequate housing, poor access to health care provisions and education, and the criminalisation of undocumented migrants.
Although the UN system provides a framework and tools for the protection of the rights of migrants and their families, many migrants today do not benefit from it because core human rights treaties are neither universally ratified nor implemented. Furthermore, too often effective protection is not available because the actors that potentially have the best capabilities to offer protection do not live up to this promise. Rights on paper do not automatically lead to rights in practice. For this to happen rights-holders have to be aware of the fact that they too should be treated with respect and dignity and that their governments can be held accountable for the commitments they have made under international law.
Past Achievements