Objectives
 

                    The globalization of markets, information and technology, as well as the liberalization of many laws affecting individuals' mobility, has enabled vast movements of people on a scale never seen before. The objective of this Convention is to create international standards for the protection of the human rights of migrant workers and their families.
 

                    The reasons individuals migrate vary greatly. Some individuals migrate in order to escape desperate conditions in their home countries, such as war or famine. Others seek better living conditions in countries where economic opportunities seem to be more abundant or more equitable.
 

                    However, all migrant workers are vulnerable to abuse by virtue of the fact that they are living in a foreign country. In fact, many fall victim to human traffickers who recruit them under false pretences and some are even held against their will under slavelike conditions.
 

                    Migrants may face many forms of discrimination on the part of the institutions and laws of their host country or its people. They are often restricted by law in the kind of employment or conditions of work in which they can engage, even in cases where they were encouraged by foreign companies or Governments to settle in the host country.
 

                Key Provisions
 

                    The adoption of this Convention in 1990 was an historic event for migrant workers. It establishes, in certain areas, the principle of equality of treatment with nationals for all migrant workers and their families, irrespective of their legal status.
 

                    This Convention sets forth, for the first time, internationally uniform definitions agreed upon by States for different categories of migrant workers. States also agreed upon the need for the sending, transit and receiving countries to institute protective action on behalf of the migrant workers.

                    The Convention establishes standards to which States parties must adhere with respect to migrant workers. It incorporates six international human rights treaties that are today in force. It also provides for the establishment of a monitoring mechanism in the form of an international body of independent experts. This independent body will periodically review the implementation of the Convention by States parties to the Convention.
 
  TEXT

Download:  English       French
 

Entry into force:  Not yet in force: (the Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following a period of three months after the date of deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in accordance with its article 87 (1)) Status as at 15 June 2000:  Signatories:  6  Contracting Parties:  12