Protection of migrants A/RES/68/179 Recognizing that women represent almost half of all international migrants, and in this regard recognizing also that women migrant workers are important contributors to social and economic development in countries of origin and destination, and underlining the value and dignity of their labour, including the labour of domestic workers, Recognizing also the importance of the second High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, held on 3 and 4 October 2013, 18 which recognized the important contribution of migration in realizing the Millennium Development Goals and recognized that human mobility is a key factor for sustainable development, which should receive due consideration in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda, Bearing in mind the seventh meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, to be held in Sweden in May 2014, whose main theme will be “Unlocking the potential of migration for inclusive development” and which will take into consideration the results of the second High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, Recognizing the cultural and economic contributions made by migrants to receiving societies and their communities of origin, as well as the need to identify appropriate means of maximizing development benefits and responding to the challenges that migration poses to countries of origin, transit and destination, especially in the light of the impact of the financial and economic crisis, and committing to ensuring dignified, humane treatment with applicable protections and to strengthening mechanisms for international cooperation, Emphasizing the global character of the migratory phenomenon, the importance of international, regional and bilateral cooperation and dialogue in this regard, as appropriate, and the need to protect the human rights of all migrants, particularly at a time in which migration flows have increased in the globalized economy and take place in a context of continued security concerns, Bearing in mind the obligations of States under international law, as applicable, to exercise due diligence to prevent crimes against migrants and to investigate and punish perpetrators, and that not doing so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of victims, Affirming that crimes against migrants, including trafficking in persons, continue to pose a serious challenge and require a concerted international assessment and response and genuine multilateral cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination for their eradication, Bearing in mind that policies and initiatives on the issue of migration, including those that refer to the orderly management of migration, should promote holistic approaches that take into account the causes and consequences of the phenomenon, as well as full respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, Stressing the importance of regulations and laws regarding irregular migration, at all levels of government, being in accordance with the obligations of States under international law, including international human rights law, _______________ 18 Resolution 68/4. 3/9