Guide on ratification of the Migrant Workers Convention

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I:.................................................................................................................3
THE CHALLENGES OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF RELATED CONVENTIONS...................................................................................3
1. Overview ......................................................................................................3
2. The Conventions pertaining to migrant workers...........................................5
3. Why are these Conventions significant? ......................................................6
4. Twelve reasons to ratify these Conventions.................................................7
5. The record to date ........................................................................................7
6. Purpose of this guide....................................................................................8
CHAPTER II:................................................................................................................9
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS: WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY ARE
CREATED....................................................................................................................9
1. History of human rights standards..............................................................10
2. How standards are developed....................................................................11
3. How treaties become international law: signing, ratifying, acceding ..........12
4. When a treaty comes into force..................................................................13
5. The treaty monitoring system .....................................................................13
6. Other values of treaties ..............................................................................14
CHAPTER III:.............................................................................................................15
IMPORTANCE AND CONTENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE
PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF ALL MIGRANT WORKERS AND MEMBERS
OF THEIR FAMILIES.................................................................................................15
1. Why is the Convention important?..............................................................15
2. Highlights of the Convention ......................................................................16
A. Scope and definitions .............................................................................16
B. Human rights of migrant workers and members of their families ...........17
C. Other rights of migrant workers and members of their families who .....20
are documented or in a regular situation............................................................20
D. Consultation and Cooperation among States in the promotion of sound,
equitable, humane and lawful conditions of international migration ...................21
3. Monitoring the Convention .........................................................................22
CHAPTER IV: ............................................................................................................25
ACHIEVING RATIFICATION.....................................................................................25
1. Preparing for ratification .............................................................................25
2. Practical Effects of Implementation ............................................................27
3. Facilitating ratification: Addressing concerns and challenges to ratification
of the Convention ...................................................................................................28
A. Arguments on the utility and scope of the Convention ...........................29
B. Arguments on respecting State prerogatives .........................................31
C. Arguments on the role and rights of migrants relative to nationals.........31
D. Arguments on the consequences of implementing the Convention .......33
4. Facilitating ratification: advocacy and cooperation.....................................34
ANNEX: RATIFICATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS ON
MIGRATION/MIGRANTS RIGHTS............................................................................35
BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................37