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Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Securing the victim's right to redress requires that a State party's competent authorities promptly, effectively and impartially investigate and examine the case of any individual who alleges that she or he has been subjected to torture or ill-treatment. Such an investigation should include as a standard measure an independent physical and psychological forensic examination as provided for in the Istanbul Protocol. Undue delays in initiating or concluding legal investigations into complaints of torture or ill-treatment compromise victims' rights under article 14 to obtain redress, including fair and adequate compensation and the means for as full rehabilitation as possible.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Notwithstanding the evidentiary benefits to victims afforded by a criminal investigation, a civil proceeding and the victim's claim for reparation should not be dependent on the conclusion of a criminal proceeding. The Committee considers that compensation should not be unduly delayed until criminal liability has been established. Civil liability should be available independently of criminal proceedings and the necessary legislation and institutions for such purpose should be in place. If criminal proceedings are required by domestic legislation to take place before civil compensation can be sought, then the absence of or undue delay in those criminal proceedings constitutes a failure on the part of the State party to fulfil its obligations under the Convention. Disciplinary action alone shall not be regarded as an effective remedy within the meaning of article 14.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- Similarly, granting immunity, in violation of international law, to any State or its agents or to non-State actors for torture or ill-treatment, is in direct conflict with the obligation of providing redress to victims. When impunity is allowed by law or exists de facto, it bars victims from seeking full redress as it allows the violators to go unpunished and denies victims full assurance of their rights under article 14. The Committee affirms that under no circumstances may arguments of national security be used to deny redress for victims.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- States parties shall establish a system to oversee, monitor, evaluate, and report on their provision of redress measures and necessary rehabilitation services to victims of torture or ill-treatment. Accordingly, States parties should include in their reports to the Committee data disaggregated by age, gender, nationality, and other key factors regarding redress measures afforded to victims of torture or ill-treatment, in order to meet their obligation as recalled in general comment No. 2 to provide continual evaluation of their efforts to provide redress to victims.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Judicial remedies must always be available to victims, irrespective of what other remedies may be available, and should enable victim participation. States parties should provide adequate legal aid to those victims of torture or ill-treatment lacking the necessary resources to bring complaints and to make claims for redress. States parties shall also make readily available to the victims all evidence concerning acts of torture or ill-treatment upon the request of victims, their legal counsel, or a judge. A State party's failure to provide evidence and information, such as records of medical evaluations or treatment, can unduly impair victims' ability to lodge complaints and to seek redress, compensation and rehabilitation.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46c
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The rehabilitation facilities available to victims of torture or ill-treatment and the accessibility thereof, as well as the budget allocation for rehabilitation programmes and the number of victims who have received rehabilitative services appropriate to their needs;
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46l
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The legal aid and witness protection available to victims of torture or ill-treatment as well as witnesses and others who have intervened on behalf of victims, including how such protection is made known and how it is made available in practice; the number of victims who have been granted legal aid; the number of persons who have been protected by State witness protection; and the State party's evaluation of the effectiveness of such protection.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- The Committee also understands that the concept of "any territory under its jurisdiction," linked as it is with the principle of non-derogability, includes any territory or facilities and must be applied to protect any person, citizen or non-citizen without discrimination subject to the de jure or de facto control of a State party. The Committee emphasizes that the State's obligation to prevent torture also applies to all persons who act, de jure or de facto, in the name of, in conjunction with, or at the behest of the State party. It is a matter of urgency that each State party should closely monitor its officials and those acting on its behalf and should identify and report to the Committee any incidents of torture or ill-treatment as a consequence of anti-terrorism measures, among others, and the measures taken to investigate, punish, and prevent further torture or ill-treatment in the future, with particular attention to the legal responsibility of both the direct perpetrators and officials in the chain of command, whether by acts of instigation, consent or acquiescence.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- The Committee has made clear that where State authorities or others acting in official capacity or under colour of law, know or have reasonable grounds to believe that acts of torture or ill-treatment are being committed by non-State officials or private actors and they fail to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish such non-State officials or private actors consistently with the Convention, the State bears responsibility and its officials should be considered as authors, complicit or otherwise responsible under the Convention for consenting to or acquiescing in such impermissible acts. Since the failure of the State to exercise due diligence to intervene to stop, sanction and provide remedies to victims of torture facilitates and enables non-State actors to commit acts impermissible under the Convention with impunity, the State's indifference or inaction provides a form of encouragement and/or de facto permission. The Committee has applied this principle to States parties' failure to prevent and protect victims from gender-based violence, such as rape, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, and trafficking.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- The Committee considers reservations which seek to limit the application of article 14 to be incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention. States parties are therefore encouraged to consider withdrawing any reservations to article 14 that limit its application so as to ensure that all victims of torture or ill-treatment have access to redress and remedy.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46b
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The measures taken to assist victims in the direct aftermath of torture;
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- Article 2, paragraph 1, obliges each State party to take actions that will reinforce the prohibition against torture through legislative, administrative, judicial, or other actions that must, in the end, be effective in preventing it. To ensure that measures are in fact taken that are known to prevent or punish any acts of torture, the Convention outlines in subsequent articles obligations for the State party to take measures specified therein.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- The Committee highlights the importance of the State party affirmatively ensuring that victims and their families are adequately informed of their right to pursue redress. In this regard, the procedures for seeking reparation should be transparent. The State party should moreover provide assistance and support to minimize the hardship to complainants and their representatives. Civil proceedings, or other proceedings, should not impose a financial burden upon victims that would prevent or discourage them from seeking redress. Where existing civil proceedings are unable to provide adequate redress to victims, the Committee recommends implementing mechanisms that are readily accessible to victims of torture and ill-treatment, including the establishment of a national fund to provide redress for victims of torture. Special measures should be adopted to ensure access by persons belonging to groups which have been marginalized or made vulnerable.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46a
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The number of victims of torture or ill-treatment who have sought compensation through legal, administrative and other means and the nature of the violations alleged; the number of victims who have been awarded compensation; and in what amounts;
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- The obligation to prevent torture in article 2 is wide-ranging. The obligations to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (hereinafter "ill-treatment") under article 16, paragraph 1, are indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. The obligation to prevent ill-treatment in practice overlaps with and is largely congruent with the obligation to prevent torture. Article 16, identifying the means of prevention of ill-treatment, emphasizes "in particular" the measures outlined in articles 10 to 13, but does not limit effective prevention to these articles, as the Committee has explained, for example, with respect to compensation in article 14. In practice, the definitional threshold between ill-treatment and torture is often not clear. Experience demonstrates that the conditions that give rise to ill-treatment frequently facilitate torture and therefore the measures required to prevent torture must be applied to prevent ill-treatment. Accordingly, the Committee has considered the prohibition of ill-treatment to be likewise non-derogable under the Convention and its prevention to be an effective and non-derogable measure.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- States parties are obligated to eliminate any legal or other obstacles that impede the eradication of torture and ill-treatment; and to take positive effective measures to ensure that such conduct and any recurrences thereof are effectively prevented. States parties also have the obligation continually to keep under review and improve their national laws and performance under the Convention in accordance with the Committee's concluding observations and views adopted on individual communications. If the measures adopted by the State party fail to accomplish the purpose of eradicating acts of torture, the Convention requires that they be revised and/or that new, more effective measures be adopted. Likewise, the Committee's understanding of and recommendations in respect of effective measures are in a process of continual evolution, as, unfortunately, are the methods of torture and ill-treatment.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- Victims are persons who have individually or collectively suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that constitute violations of the Convention. A person should be considered a victim regardless of whether the perpetrator of the violation is identified, apprehended, prosecuted or convicted, and regardless of any familial or other relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. The term "victim" also includes affected immediate family or dependants of the victim as well as persons who have suffered harm in intervening to assist victims or to prevent victimization. The term "survivors" may, in some cases, be preferred by persons who have suffered harm. The Committee uses the legal term "victims" without prejudice to other terms which may be preferable in specific contexts.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Families
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- The obligations of States parties to provide redress under article 14 are two-fold: procedural and substantive. To satisfy their procedural obligations, States parties shall enact legislation and establish complaints mechanisms, investigation bodies and institutions, including independent judicial bodies, capable of determining the right to and awarding redress for a victim of torture and ill-treatment, and ensure that such mechanisms and bodies are effective and accessible to all victims. At the substantive level, States parties shall ensure that victims of torture or ill-treatment obtain full and effective redress and reparation, including compensation and the means for as full rehabilitation as possible.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- As stated in paragraph 2 above, redress includes the following five forms of reparation: restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition. The Committee recognizes the elements of full redress under international law and practice as outlined in the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law (Basic Principles and Guidelines). Reparation must be adequate, effective and comprehensive. States parties are reminded that in the determination of redress and reparative measures provided or awarded to a victim of torture or ill-treatment, the specificities and circumstances of each case must be taken into consideration and redress should be tailored to the particular needs of the victim and be proportionate to the gravity of the violations committed against them. The Committee emphasizes that the provision of reparation has an inherent preventive and deterrent effect in relation to future violations.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Restitution is a form of redress designed to re-establish the victim's situation before the violation of the Convention was committed, taking into consideration the specificities of each case. The preventive obligations under the Convention require States parties to ensure that a victim receiving such restitution is not placed in a position where he or she is at risk of repetition of torture or ill-treatment. In certain cases, the victim may consider that restitution is not possible due to the nature of the violation; however the State shall provide the victim with full access to redress. For restitution to be effective, efforts should be made to address any structural causes of the violation, including any kind of discrimination related to, for example, gender, sexual orientation, disability, political or other opinion, ethnicity, age and religion, and all other grounds of discrimination.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Certain basic guarantees apply to all persons deprived of their liberty. Some of these are specified in the Convention, and the Committee consistently calls upon States parties to use them. The Committee's recommendations concerning effective measures aim to clarify the current baseline and are not exhaustive. Such guarantees include, inter alia, maintaining an official register of detainees, the right of detainees to be informed of their rights, the right promptly to receive independent legal assistance, independent medical assistance, and to contact relatives, the need to establish impartial mechanisms for inspecting and visiting places of detention and confinement, and the availability to detainees and persons at risk of torture and ill-treatment of judicial and other remedies that will allow them to have their complaints promptly and impartially examined, to defend their rights, and to challenge the legality of their detention or treatment.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- The protection of certain minority or marginalized individuals or populations especially at risk of torture is a part of the obligation to prevent torture or ill-treatment. States parties must ensure that, insofar as the obligations arising under the Convention are concerned, their laws are in practice applied to all persons, regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, age, religious belief or affiliation, political or other opinion, national or social origin, gender, sexual orientation, transgender identity, mental or other disability, health status, economic or indigenous status, reason for which the person is detained, including persons accused of political offences or terrorist acts, asylum-seekers, refugees or others under international protection, or any other status or adverse distinction. States parties should, therefore, ensure the protection of members of groups especially at risk of being tortured, by fully prosecuting and punishing all acts of violence and abuse against these individuals and ensuring implementation of other positive measures of prevention and protection, including but not limited to those outlined above.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- Continual evaluation is therefore a crucial component of effective measures. The Committee has consistently recommended that States parties provide data disaggregated by age, gender and other key factors in their reports to enable the Committee to adequately evaluate the implementation of the Convention. Disaggregated data permits the States parties and the Committee to identify, compare and take steps to remedy discriminatory treatment that may otherwise go unnoticed and unaddressed. States parties are requested to describe, as far as possible, factors affecting the incidence and prevention of torture or ill-treatment, as well as the difficulties experienced in preventing torture or ill-treatment against specific relevant sectors of the population, such as minorities, victims of torture, children and women, taking into account the general and particular forms that such torture and ill-treatment may take.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Eliminating employment discrimination and conducting ongoing sensitization training in contexts where torture or ill-treatment is likely to be committed is also key to preventing such violations and building a culture of respect for women and minorities. States are encouraged to promote the hiring of persons belonging to minority groups and women, particularly in the medical, educational, prison/detention, law enforcement, judicial and legal fields, within State institutions as well as the private sector. States parties should include in their reports information on their progress in these matters, disaggregated by gender, race, national origin, and other relevant status.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- The Committee emphasizes the importance of victim participation in the redress process, and that the restoration of the dignity of the victim is the ultimate objective in the provision of redress.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46d
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The methods available for assessing the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes and services, including the application of appropriate indicators and benchmarks, and the result of such assessment;
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46n
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The safeguards available for the special protection of members of marginalized or vulnerable groups, including women and children seeking to exercise their rights guaranteed under article 14 of the Convention.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Where State authorities or others acting in their official capacity have committed, know or have reasonable grounds to believe that acts of torture or ill-treatment have been committed by non-State officials or private actors and failed to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish such non-State officials or private actors in accordance with the Convention, the State bears responsibility for providing redress for the victims (general comment No. 2).
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- The Committee recognizes that most States parties identify or define certain conduct as ill-treatment in their criminal codes. In comparison to torture, ill-treatment may differ in the severity of pain and suffering and does not require proof of impermissible purposes. The Committee emphasizes that it would be a violation of the Convention to prosecute conduct solely as ill-treatment where the elements of torture are also present.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- Under the Convention, States parties are required to prosecute or extradite alleged perpetrators of torture when they are found in any territory under its jurisdiction, and to adopt the necessary legislation to make this possible. The Committee considers that the application of article 14 is not limited to victims who were harmed in the territory of the State party or by or against nationals of the State party. The Committee has commended the efforts of States parties for providing civil remedies for victims who were subjected to torture or ill-treatment outside their territory. This is particularly important when a victim is unable to exercise the rights guaranteed under article 14 in the territory where the violation took place. Indeed, article 14 requires States parties to ensure that all victims of torture and ill-treatment are able to access remedy and obtain redress.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46m
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The steps taken to implement judgements by national, regional or international courts, including the amount of time lapsed from the date of the judgement and the actual provision of compensation or other forms of redress. States parties should also include disaggregated data on the number of victims designated to receive reparative measures in court judgements and the number who actually received redress, and for what violations.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- A crucial component of the right to redress is the clear acknowledgement by the State party concerned that the reparative measures provided or awarded to a victim are for violations of the Convention, by action or omission. The Committee is therefore of the view that a State party may not implement development measures or provide humanitarian assistance as a substitute for redress for victims of torture or ill-treatment. The failure of a State party to provide the individual victim of torture with redress may not be justified by invoking a State's level of development. The Committee recalls that subsequent governments as well as successor States still have the obligation to guarantee access to the right of redress.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46k
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The available avenues for a victim of torture or ill-treatment to obtain redress, including all criminal, civil, administrative and non-judicial procedures, such as administrative reparation programmes, as well as information on the number of victims who have accessed such mechanisms, how many obtained redress and reparative measures, and in what forms and/or amounts.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- The Convention imposes obligations on States parties and not on individuals. States bear international responsibility for the acts and omissions of their officials and others, including agents, private contractors, and others acting in official capacity or acting on behalf of the State, in conjunction with the State, under its direction or control, or otherwise under colour of law. Accordingly, each State party should prohibit, prevent and redress torture and ill-treatment in all contexts of custody or control, for example, in prisons, hospitals, schools, institutions that engage in the care of children, the aged, the mentally ill or disabled, in military service, and other institutions as well as contexts where the failure of the State to intervene encourages and enhances the danger of privately inflicted harm. The Convention does not, however, limit the international responsibility that States or individuals can incur for perpetrating torture and ill-treatment under international customary law and other treaties.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- The Committee observes that States parties are obligated to adopt effective measures to prevent public authorities and other persons acting in an official capacity from directly committing, instigating, inciting, encouraging, acquiescing in or otherwise participating or being complicit in acts of torture as defined in the Convention. Thus, States parties should adopt effective measures to prevent such authorities or others acting in an official capacity or under colour of law, from consenting to or acquiescing in any acts of torture. The Committee has concluded that States parties are in violation of the Convention when they fail to fulfil these obligations. For example, where detention centres are privately owned or run, the Committee considers that personnel are acting in an official capacity on account of their responsibility for carrying out the State function without derogation of the obligation of State officials to monitor and take all effective measures to prevent torture and ill-treatment.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Serious discrepancies between the Convention's definition and that incorporated into domestic law create actual or potential loopholes for impunity. In some cases, although similar language may be used, its meaning may be qualified by domestic law or by judicial interpretation and thus the Committee calls upon each State party to ensure that all parts of its Government adhere to the definition set forth in the Convention for the purpose of defining the obligations of the State. At the same time, the Committee recognizes that broader domestic definitions also advance the object and purpose of this Convention so long as they contain and are applied in accordance with the standards of the Convention, at a minimum. In particular, the Committee emphasizes that elements of intent and purpose in article 1 do not involve a subjective inquiry into the motivations of the perpetrators, but rather must be objective determinations under the circumstances. It is essential to investigate and establish the responsibility of persons in the chain of command as well as that of the direct perpetrator(s).
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- By defining the offence of torture as distinct from common assault or other crimes, the Committee considers that States parties will directly advance the Convention's overarching aim of preventing torture and ill-treatment. Naming and defining this crime will promote the Convention's aim, inter alia, by alerting everyone, including perpetrators, victims, and the public, to the special gravity of the crime of torture. Codifying this crime will also (a) emphasize the need for appropriate punishment that takes into account the gravity of the offence, (b) strengthen the deterrent effect of the prohibition itself, (c) enhance the ability of responsible officials to track the specific crime of torture and (d) enable and empower the public to monitor and, when required, to challenge State action as well as State inaction that violates the Convention.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Through review of successive reports from States parties, the examination of individual communications, and monitoring of developments, the Committee has, in its concluding observations, articulated its understanding of what constitute effective measures, highlights of which we set forth here. In terms of both the principles of general application of article 2 and developments that build upon specific articles of the Convention, the Committee has recommended specific actions designed to enhance each State party's ability swiftly and effectively to implement measures necessary and appropriate to prevent acts of torture and ill-treatment and thereby assist States parties in bringing their law and practice into full compliance with the Convention.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- The right to prompt, fair and adequate compensation for torture or ill-treatment under article 14 is multi-layered and compensation awarded to a victim should be sufficient to compensate for any economically assessable damage resulting from torture or ill-treatment, whether pecuniary or non-pecuniary. This may include: reimbursement of medical expenses paid and provision of funds to cover future medical or rehabilitative services needed by the victim to ensure as full rehabilitation as possible; pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage resulting from the physical and mental harm caused; loss of earnings and earning potential due to disabilities caused by the torture or ill-treatment; and lost opportunities such as employment and education. In addition, adequate compensation awarded by States parties to a victim of torture or ill-treatment should provide for legal or specialist assistance, and other costs associated with bringing a claim for redress.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- The Committee affirms that the provision of means for as full rehabilitation as possible for anyone who has suffered harm as a result of a violation of the Convention should be holistic and include medical and psychological care as well as legal and social services. Rehabilitation, for the purposes of this general comment, refers to the restoration of function or the acquisition of new skills required as a result of the changed circumstances of a victim in the aftermath of torture or ill-treatment. It seeks to enable the maximum possible self-sufficiency and function for the individual concerned, and may involve adjustments to the person's physical and social environment. Rehabilitation for victims should aim to restore, as far as possible, their independence, physical, mental, social and vocational ability; and full inclusion and participation in society.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- States parties shall ensure that effective rehabilitation services and programmes are established in the State, taking into account a victim's culture, personality, history and background and are accessible to all victims without discrimination and regardless of a victim's identity or status within a marginalized or vulnerable group, as illustrated in paragraph 32, including asylum seekers and refugees. States parties' legislation should establish concrete mechanisms and programmes for providing rehabilitation to victims of torture or ill-treatment. Torture victims should be provided access to rehabilitation programmes as soon as possible following an assessment by qualified independent medical professionals. Access to rehabilitation programmes should not depend on the victim pursuing judicial remedies. The obligation in article 14 to provide for the means for as full rehabilitation as possible can be fulfilled through the direct provision of rehabilitative services by the State, or through the funding of private medical, legal and other facilities, including those administered by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in which case the State shall ensure that no reprisals or intimidation are directed at them. The victim's participation in the selection of the service provider is essential. Services should be available in relevant languages. States parties are encouraged to establish systems for assessing the effective implementation of rehabilitation programmes and services, including by using appropriate indicators and benchmarks.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- At the procedural level, States parties shall ensure the existence of institutions competent to render enforceable final decisions through a procedure established by law to enable victims of torture or ill-treatment to secure redress, including adequate compensation and rehabilitation.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- The Committee reiterates that this general comment has to be considered without prejudice to any higher degree of protection contained in any international instrument or national law, as long as they contain, as a minimum, the standards of the Convention.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- The requirement in the Convention to provide these forms of rehabilitative services does not extinguish the need to provide medical and psychosocial services for victims in the direct aftermath of torture, nor does such initial care represent the fulfilment of the obligation to provide the means for as full rehabilitation as possible.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46f
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The domestic legislation which provides victims of torture or ill-treatment with the right to remedy and redress, and relevant implementation measures taken by the State party. Where such legislation is lacking, reports should include information on the measures taken by the State party to adopt and implement such legislation.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46h
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The complaints mechanisms available for victims of torture or ill-treatment, including how such mechanisms are made known and accessible to all victims. States parties should also include data disaggregated by age, gender, nationality, location and alleged violation, on the number of complaints received through such mechanisms.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- This general comment explains and clarifies to States parties the content and scope of the obligations under article 14 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Each State party is required to "ensure in its legal system that the victim of an act of torture obtains redress and has an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation, including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible." The Committee considers that article 14 is applicable to all victims of torture and acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (hereafter "ill-treatment") without discrimination of any kind, in line with the Committee's general comment No. 2.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Article 2, paragraph 2, provides that the prohibition against torture is absolute and non-derogable. It emphasizes that no exceptional circumstances whatsoever may be invoked by a State Party to justify acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction. The Convention identifies as among such circumstances a state of war or threat thereof, internal political instability or any other public emergency. This includes any threat of terrorist acts or violent crime as well as armed conflict, international or non-international. The Committee is deeply concerned at and rejects absolutely any efforts by States to justify torture and ill-treatment as a means to protect public safety or avert emergencies in these and all other situations. Similarly, it rejects any religious or traditional justification that would violate this absolute prohibition. The Committee considers that amnesties or other impediments which preclude or indicate unwillingness to provide prompt and fair prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of torture or ill-treatment violate the principle of non-derogability.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Additionally, if a person is to be transferred or sent to the custody or control of an individual or institution known to have engaged in torture or ill-treatment, or has not implemented adequate safeguards, the State is responsible, and its officials subject to punishment for ordering, permitting or participating in this transfer contrary to the State's obligation to take effective measures to prevent torture in accordance with article 2, paragraph 1. The Committee has expressed its concern when States parties send persons to such places without due process of law as required by articles 2 and 3.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- The Committee has consistently held that amnesties for the crime of torture are incompatible with the obligations of States parties under the Convention, including under article 14. As was pointed out in general comment No. 2, "amnesties or other impediments which preclude or indicate unwillingness to provide prompt and fair prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of torture or ill-treatment violate the principle of non-derogability." The Committee considers that amnesties for torture and ill-treatment pose impermissible obstacles to a victim in his or her efforts to obtain redress and contribute to a climate of impunity. The Committee therefore calls on States parties to remove any amnesties for torture or ill-treatment.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- To give effect to article 14, States parties shall enact legislation specifically providing a victim of torture and ill-treatment with an effective remedy and the right to obtain adequate and appropriate redress, including compensation and as full rehabilitation as possible. Such legislation must allow for individuals to exercise this right and ensure their access to a judicial remedy. While collective reparation and administrative reparation programmes may be acceptable as a form of redress, such programmes may not render ineffective the individual right to a remedy and to obtain redress.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- The principle of non-discrimination is a basic and general principle in the protection of human rights and fundamental to the interpretation and application of the Convention. Non-discrimination is included within the definition of torture itself in article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention, which explicitly prohibits specified acts when carried out for "any reason based on discrimination of any kind…". The Committee emphasizes that the discriminatory use of mental or physical violence or abuse is an important factor in determining whether an act constitutes torture.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Experience since the Convention came into force has enhanced the Committee's understanding of the scope and nature of the prohibition against torture, of the methodologies of torture, of the contexts and consequences in which it occurs, as well as of evolving effective measures to prevent it in different contexts. For example, the Committee has emphasized the importance of having same sex guards when privacy is involved. As new methods of prevention (e.g. videotaping all interrogations, utilizing investigative procedures such as the Istanbul Protocol of 1999, or new approaches to public education or the protection of minors) are discovered, tested and found effective, article 2 provides authority to build upon the remaining articles and to expand the scope of measures required to prevent torture.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- State reports frequently lack specific and sufficient information on the implementation of the Convention with respect to women. The Committee emphasizes that gender is a key factor. Being female intersects with other identifying characteristics or status of the person such as race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, immigrant status etc. to determine the ways that women and girls are subject to or at risk of torture or ill-treatment and the consequences thereof. The contexts in which females are at risk include deprivation of liberty, medical treatment, particularly involving reproductive decisions, and violence by private actors in communities and homes. Men are also subject to certain gendered violations of the Convention such as rape or sexual violence and abuse. Both men and women and boys and girls may be subject to violations of the Convention on the basis of their actual or perceived non-conformity with socially determined gender roles. States parties are requested to identify these situations and the measures taken to punish and prevent them in their reports.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Boys
- Girls
- Men
- Women
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Articles 3 to 15 of the Convention constitute specific preventive measures that the States parties deemed essential to prevent torture and ill-treatment, particularly in custody or detention. The Committee emphasizes that the obligation to take effective preventive measures transcends the items enumerated specifically in the Convention or the demands of this general comment. For example, it is important that the general population be educated on the history, scope, and necessity of the non-derogable prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, as well as that law enforcement and other personnel receive education on recognizing and preventing torture and ill-treatment. Similarly, in light of its long experience in reviewing and assessing State reports on officially inflicted or sanctioned torture or ill-treatment, the Committee acknowledges the importance of adapting the concept of monitoring conditions to prevent torture and ill-treatment to situations where violence is inflicted privately. States parties should specifically include in their reports to the Committee detailed information on their implementation of preventive measures, disaggregated by relevant status.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Under article 2 of the Convention, States parties shall enact "effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction." As clarified by the Committee in its general comment No. 2, "States parties must make the offence of torture punishable as an offence under its criminal law, in accordance, at a minimum, with the elements of torture as defined in article 1 of the Convention, and the requirements of article 4." The failure of States parties to enact legislation that clearly incorporates their obligations under the Convention and criminalizes torture and ill-treatment, and the resulting absences of torture and ill-treatment as criminal offences, obstructs the victim's capacity to access and enjoy his or her rights guaranteed under article 14.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- A State's failure to investigate, criminally prosecute, or to allow civil proceedings related to allegations of acts of torture in a prompt manner, may constitute a de facto denial of redress and thus constitute a violation of the State's obligations under article 14.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- The State party should also take measures to prevent interference with victims' privacy and to protect victims, their families and witnesses and others who have intervened on their behalf against intimidation and retaliation at all times before, during and after judicial, administrative or other proceedings that affect the interests of victims. Failure to provide protection stands in the way of victims filing complaints and thereby violates the right to seek and obtain redress and remedy.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- The Committee strongly encourages States parties to recognize the Committee's competence to consider individual complaints under article 22 to allow victims to submit communications and seek the views of the Committee. The Committee furthermore encourages States parties to ratify or accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture in order to strengthen preventive measures against torture and ill-treatment.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- In order to fulfil its obligations to provide a victim of torture or ill-treatment with the means for as full rehabilitation as possible, each State party should adopt a long-term, integrated approach and ensure that specialist services for victims of torture or ill-treatment are available, appropriate and readily accessible. These should include: a procedure for the assessment and evaluation of individuals' therapeutic and other needs, based on, inter alia, the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (The Istanbul Protocol); and may include a wide range of inter-disciplinary measures, such as medical, physical and psychological rehabilitative services; re-integrative and social services; community and family-oriented assistance and services; vocational training; education etc. A holistic approach to rehabilitation which also takes into consideration the strength and resilience of the victim is of utmost importance. Furthermore, victims may be at risk of re-traumatization and have a valid fear of acts which remind them of the torture or ill-treatment they have endured. Consequently, a high priority should be placed on the need to create a context of confidence and trust in which assistance can be provided. Confidential services should be provided as required.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Families
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Satisfaction should include, by way of and in addition to the obligations of investigation and criminal prosecution under articles 12 and 13 of the Convention, any or all of the following remedies: effective measures aimed at the cessation of continuing violations; verification of the facts and full and public disclosure of the truth to the extent that such disclosure does not cause further harm or threaten the safety and interests of the victim, the victim's relatives, witnesses, or persons who have intervened to assist the victim or prevent the occurrence of further violations; the search for the whereabouts of the disappeared, for the identities of the children abducted, and for the bodies of those killed, and assistance in the recovery, identification, and reburial of victims' bodies in accordance with the expressed or presumed wish of the victims or affected families; an official declaration or judicial decision restoring the dignity, the reputation and the rights of the victim and of persons closely connected with the victim; judicial and administrative sanctions against persons liable for the violations; public apologies, including acknowledgement of the facts and acceptance of responsibility; commemorations and tributes to the victims.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- The non-derogability of the prohibition of torture is underscored by the long-standing principle embodied in article 2, paragraph 3, that an order of a superior or public authority can never be invoked as a justification of torture Thus, subordinates may not seek refuge in superior authority and should be held to account individually. At the same time, those exercising superior authority - including public officials - cannot avoid accountability or escape criminal responsibility for torture or ill-treatment committed by subordinates where they knew or should have known that such impermissible conduct was occurring, or was likely to occur, and they failed to take reasonable and necessary preventive measures. The Committee considers it essential that the responsibility of any superior officials, whether for direct instigation or encouragement of torture or ill-treatment or for consent or acquiescence therein, be fully investigated through competent, independent and impartial prosecutorial and judicial authorities. Persons who resist what they view as unlawful orders or who cooperate in the investigation of torture or ill-treatment, including by superior officials, should be protected against retaliation of any kind.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- With regard to the obligations in article 14, States parties shall ensure both de jure and de facto access to timely and effective redress mechanisms for members of groups marginalized and/or made vulnerable, avoid measures that impede the ability of members of such groups to seek and obtain redress, and address formal or informal obstacles that they may face in obtaining redress. These may include, for example, inadequate judicial or other procedures for quantifying damages which may have a negative disparate impact on such individuals in accessing or keeping money. As the Committee has emphasized in its general comment No. 2, "gender is a key factor. Being female intersects with other identifying characteristics or status of the person…to determine the ways that women and girls are subject to or at risk of torture or ill-treatment". States parties shall ensure due attention to gender in providing all the elements cited above in the process of ensuring that everybody, in particular members of groups made vulnerable, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, must be treated fairly and equally and obtain fair and adequate compensation, rehabilitation and other reparative measures which respond to their specific needs.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- The Committee emphasizes that monetary compensation alone may not be sufficient redress for a victim of torture and ill-treatment. The Committee affirms that the provision of monetary compensation only is inadequate for a State party to comply with its obligations under article 14.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46e
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The measures taken to ensure satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition;
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46g
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The measures taken to ensure that all victims of torture or ill-treatment are able to exercise and enjoy their rights under article 14.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46i
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The measures taken by States parties to ensure that all allegations of torture and ill-treatment are effectively investigated.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- States parties must make the offence of torture punishable as an offence under its criminal law, in accordance, at a minimum, with the elements of torture as defined in article 1 of the Convention, and the requirements of article 4.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Article 2, paragraph 1, requires that each State party shall take effective measures to prevent acts of torture not only in its sovereign territory but also "in any territory under its jurisdiction." The Committee has recognized that "any territory" includes all areas where the State party exercises, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, de jure or de facto effective control, in accordance with international law. The reference to "any territory" in article 2, like that in articles 5, 11, 12, 13 and 16, refers to prohibited acts committed not only on board a ship or aircraft registered by a State party, but also during military occupation or peacekeeping operations and in such places as embassies, military bases, detention facilities, or other areas over which a State exercises factual or effective control. The Committee notes that this interpretation reinforces article 5, paragraph 1 (b), which requires that a State party must take measures to exercise jurisdiction "when the alleged offender is a national of the State." The Committee considers that the scope of "territory" under article 2 must also include situations where a State party exercises, directly or indirectly, de facto or de jure control over persons in detention.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- The Committee considers that the term "redress" in article 14 encompasses the concepts of "effective remedy" and "reparation". The comprehensive reparative concept therefore entails restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition and refers to the full scope of measures required to redress violations under the Convention.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46j
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] The legislation and policy measures designed to positively identify victims of torture in order to provide them with redress.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 46o
- Paragraph text
- [On the implementation of article 14, the Committee has observed the need to provide adequate information on the implementation of article 14 in States parties' reports. Therefore, the Committee wishes to underscore that specific information should be provided on the following:] Any such other matters that the Committee may require.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2008
- Document code
- CAT/C/GC/2
Document
Implementation of article 14 by States parties
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2012
- Document code
- CAT/C/GC/3
Document
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- On account of the continuous nature of the effects of torture, statutes of limitations should not be applicable as these deprive victims of the redress, compensation, and rehabilitation due to them. For many victims, passage of time does not attenuate the harm and in some cases the harm may increase as a result of post-traumatic stress that requires medical, psychological and social support, which is often inaccessible to those who have not received redress. States parties shall ensure that all victims of torture or ill-treatment, regardless of when the violation occurred or whether it was carried out by or with the acquiescence of a former regime, are able to access their rights to remedy and to obtain redress.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- Under article 14, a State party shall ensure that victims of any act of torture or ill-treatment under its jurisdiction obtain redress. States parties have an obligation to take all necessary and effective measures to ensure that all victims of such acts obtain redress. This obligation includes an obligation for State parties to promptly initiate a process to ensure that victims obtain redress, even in the absence of a complaint, when there are reasonable grounds to believe that torture or ill-treatment has taken place.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- Judicial and non-judicial proceedings shall apply gender-sensitive procedures which avoid re-victimization and stigmatization of victims of torture or ill-treatment. With respect to sexual or gender-based violence and access to due process and an impartial judiciary, the Committee emphasizes that in any proceedings, civil or criminal, to determine the victim's right to redress, including compensation, rules of evidence and procedure in relation to gender-based violence must afford equal weight to the testimony of women and girls, as should be the case for all other victims, and prevent the introduction of discriminatory evidence and harassment of victims and witnesses. The Committee considers that complaints mechanisms and investigations require specific positive measures which take into account gender aspects in order to ensure that victims of abuses such as sexual violence and abuse, rape, marital rape, domestic violence, female genital mutilation and trafficking are able to come forward and seek and obtain redress.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- To avoid re-victimization and stigmatization of victims of torture or ill-treatment, the protections outlined in the preceding paragraph equally apply to any person marginalized or made vulnerable on the basis of identities and groups such as those examples listed under the principle of non-discrimination in paragraph 32. In judicial and non-judicial proceedings sensitivity must be exercised toward any such person. Accordingly, the Committee notes that judicial personnel must receive specific training on the various impacts of torture and ill-treatment, including those on victims from marginalized and vulnerable groups, and on how to exercise sensitivity towards victims of torture and ill-treatment, including in the form of sexual or gender-based discrimination, in order to prevent re-victimization and stigmatization.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- The Committee considers the training of relevant police, prison staff, medical personnel, judicial personnel and immigration personnel, including training on the Istanbul Protocol, to be fundamental to ensuring effective investigations. Furthermore, officials and personnel involved in efforts to obtain redress should receive methodological training in order to prevent re-traumatization of victims of torture or ill-treatment. This training should include, for health and medical personnel, the need to inform victims of gender-based and sexual violence and all other forms of discrimination of the availability of emergency medical procedures, both physical and psychological. The Committee also urges States parties to establish human rights offices within police forces, and units of officers specifically trained to handle cases of gender-based and sexual violence, including sexual violence perpetrated against men and boys, and violence against children and ethnic, religious, national or other minorities and other marginalized or vulnerable groups.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Boys
- Children
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- The Committee furthermore underlines the importance of appropriate procedures being made available to address the needs of children, taking into account the best interests of the child and the child's right to express his or her views freely in all matters affecting him or her, including judicial and administrative proceedings, and of the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. States parties should ensure the availability of child-sensitive measures for reparation which foster the health and dignity of the child.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- The Committee reminds all States parties to the Convention of the non-derogable nature of the obligations undertaken by them in ratifying the Convention. In the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001, the Committee specified that the obligations in articles 2 (whereby "no exceptional circumstances whatsoever…may be invoked as a justification of torture"), 15 (prohibiting confessions extorted by torture being admitted in evidence, except against the torturer), and 16 (prohibiting cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment) are three such provisions that "must be observed in all circumstances". The Committee considers that articles 3 to 15 are likewise obligatory as applied to both torture and ill-treatment. The Committee recognizes that States parties may choose the measures through which they fulfill these obligations, so long as they are effective and consistent with the object and purpose of the Convention.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 2 by States parties 2008, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- This general comment addresses the three parts of article 2, each of which identifies distinct interrelated and essential principles that undergird the Convention's absolute prohibition against torture. Since the adoption of the Convention against Torture, the absolute and non-derogable character of this prohibition has become accepted as a matter of customary international law. The provisions of article 2 reinforce this peremptory jus cogens norm against torture and constitute the foundation of the Committee's authority to implement effective means of prevention, including but not limited to those measures contained in the subsequent articles 3 to 16, in response to evolving threats, issues, and practices.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2008
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Articles 1 to 16 of the Convention constitute specific preventive measures that the States parties deemed essential to prevent torture and ill-treatment. To guarantee non-repetition of torture or ill-treatment, States parties should undertake measures to combat impunity for violations of the Convention. Such measures include issuing effective, clear instructions to public officials on the provisions of the Convention, especially the absolute prohibition of torture. Other measures should include any or all of the following: civilian oversight of military and security forces; ensuring that all judicial proceedings abide by international standards of due process, fairness and impartiality; strengthening the independence of the judiciary; protecting human rights defenders and legal, health and other professionals who assist torture victims; establishing systems for regular and independent monitoring of all places of detention; providing, on a priority and continued basis, training for law enforcement officials as well as military and security forces on human rights law that includes the specific needs of marginalized and vulnerable populations and specific training on the Istanbul Protocol for health and legal professionals and law enforcement officials; promoting the observance of international standards and codes of conduct by public servants, including law enforcement, correctional, medical, psychological, social service and military personnel; reviewing and reforming laws contributing to or allowing torture and ill-treatment; ensuring compliance with article 3 of the Convention prohibiting refoulement; ensuring the availability of temporary services for individuals or groups of individuals, such as shelters for victims of gender-related or other torture or ill-treatment. The Committee notes that by taking measures such as those listed herein, States parties may also be fulfilling their obligations to prevent acts of torture under article 2 of the Convention. Additionally, guarantees of non-repetition offer important potential for the transformation of social relations that may be the underlying causes of violence and may include, but are not limited to, amending relevant laws, fighting impunity, and taking effective preventative and deterrent measures.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Voluntary contributions to international funds for victims of torture play an important role in providing assistance to them. The Committee highlights the important work done by the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, which provides humanitarian assistance to victims of torture. The Committee highlights also the possibility for States parties to make voluntary contributions to this fund, irrespective of the national measures taken or contributions made.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- The Committee emphasizes that the obligation of States parties to provide the means for "as full rehabilitation as possible" refers to the need to restore and repair the harm suffered by a victim whose life situation, including dignity, health and self-sufficiency may never be fully recovered as a result of the pervasive effect of torture. The obligation does not relate to the available resources of States parties and may not be postponed.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- States parties should ensure that their domestic laws provide that a victim who has suffered violence or trauma should benefit from adequate care and protection to avoid his or her re-traumatization in the course of legal and administrative procedures designed to provide justice and reparation.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- The Committee has, in its concluding observations, identified other State obligations that shall be met in order to ensure that the article 14 rights of a victim are fully respected. In this regard, the Committee underscores the important relationship between States parties' fulfilment of their obligations under article 12 and 13, and their obligation under article 14. According to article 12, States parties shall undertake prompt, effective and impartial investigations, wherever there is reasonable ground to believe that an act of torture has been committed in any territory under its jurisdiction as the result of its actions or omissions and, as set out in article 13 and affirmed by the Committee in its general comment No. 2, ensure that impartial and effective complaints mechanisms are established. Full redress cannot be obtained if the obligations under articles 12 and 13 are not guaranteed. Complaints mechanisms shall be made known and accessible to the public, including to persons deprived of their liberty, whether in detention, psychiatric facilities, or elsewhere, via, for example, telephone hotlines or confidential complaints boxes in detention facilities, and to persons belonging to vulnerable or marginalized groups, including those who may have limited communication abilities.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- States parties to the Convention have an obligation to ensure that the right to redress is effective. Specific obstacles that impede the enjoyment of the right to redress and prevent effective implementation of article 14 include, but are not limited to: inadequate national legislation, discrimination with regard to accessing complaints and investigation mechanisms and procedures for remedy and redress; inadequate measures for securing the custody of alleged perpetrators, State secrecy laws, evidential burdens and procedural requirements that interfere with the determination of the right to redress; statutes of limitations, amnesties and immunities; the failure to provide sufficient legal aid and protection measures for victims and witnesses; as well as the associated stigma, and the physical, psychological and other related effects of torture and ill-treatment. In addition, the failure of a State party to execute judgements providing reparative measures for a victim of torture, handed down by national, international or regional courts, constitutes a significant impediment to the right to redress. States parties should develop coordinated mechanisms to enable victims to execute judgements across State lines, including recognizing the validity of court orders from other States parties and assisting in locating the assets of perpetrators.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Implementation of article 14 by States parties 2012, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- The principle of non-discrimination is a basic and general principle in the protection of human rights and fundamental to the interpretation and application of the Convention. States parties shall ensure that access to justice and to mechanisms for seeking and obtaining redress are readily available and that positive measures ensure that redress is equally accessible to all persons regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, age, religious belief or affiliation, political or other opinion, national or social origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or other disability, health status, economic or indigenous status, reason for which the person is detained, including persons accused of political offences or terrorist acts, asylum-seekers, refugees or others under international protection, or any other status or adverse distinction, and including those marginalized or made vulnerable on bases such as those above. Culturally sensitive collective reparation measures shall be available for groups with shared identity, such as minority groups, indigenous groups, and others. The Committee notes that collective measures do not exclude the individual right to redress.
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
General comment No. 4 (2017) on the implementation of article 3 of the Convention in the context of article 22
- Body
- Committee against Torture
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2018
- Document code
- CAT/C/GC/4
Document
The right to just and favourable conditions of work (Art. 7)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2016
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/23
Document
The right to adequate housing
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1991
Document
Forced evictions
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1997
- Document code
- E/C.12/1997/4
Document
The domestic application of the Covenant
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1998
- Document code
- E/C.12/1998/24
Document
Plans of action for primary education (Art. 14)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1999
- Document code
- E/C.12/1999/4
Document
The right to adequate food (Art. 11)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1999
- Document code
- E/C.12/1999/5
Document
Right of everyone to take part in cultural life (Art. 15, para. 1(a))
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2009
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/21
Document
The right to education (Art. 13)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1999
- Document code
- E/C.12/1999/10
Document
The economic, social and cultural rights of older persons
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1995
- Document code
- E/C.12/1995/16
Document
The role of national human rights institutions in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1998
- Document code
- E/C.12/1998/24
Document
The right to sexual and reproductive health (Art. 12)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2016
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/22
Document
Persons with Disabilities
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1994
- Document code
- E/C.12/1994/13
Document
The right to water (Art. 11 and 12)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2002
- Document code
- E/C.12/2002/11
Document
The right to social security (Art. 9)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2007
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/19
Document
The right to work (Art. 6)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2005
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/18
Document
The relationship between economic sanctions and respect for economic, social and cultural rights
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1997
- Document code
- E/C.12/1997/8
Document
The right to the highest attainable standard of health (Art. 12)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2000
- Document code
- E/C.12/2000/4
Document
The equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2005
- Document code
- E/C.12/2005/4
Document
The right of everyone to benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he or she is the author (Art. 15, para. 1 (c))
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2005
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/17
Document
Non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights (Art. 2, para. 2)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2009
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/20
Document
Reporting by States Parties
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1989
Document
International technical assistance measures
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1990
Document
The nature of States parties’ obligations
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 1990
Document
State obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the context of business activities
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2017
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/24
Document
General comment No. 26 (2022) on land and economic, social and cultural rights
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2023
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/26
Document
General comment No. 25 (2020) on science and economic, social and cultural rights (article 15 (1) (b), (2), (3) and (4) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
- Body
- Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2020
- Document code
- E/C.12/GC/25
Document
General comment No. 1 (2023) on enforced disappearance in the context of migration
- Body
- Committee on Enforced Disappearances
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Year
- 2023
- Document code
- CED/C/GC/1
Document
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 62d (i)
- Paragraph text
- [While the States of employment have the primary responsibility to protect the rights of migrant domestic workers, embassies and consulates of States of origin should play an active role in protecting the rights of their nationals employed as migrant domestic workers. In particular, embassies and consulates of countries of origin that are present in countries where migrant domestic workers are employed are encouraged, in coordination with the authorities in the countries of employment, to:] [Receive, record and report information that can be useful to migrant domestic workers in the country of employment as well as to prospective migrant workers back home regarding:] Actual country and employment conditions;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- As a deterrent for migrant workers and members of their families in an irregular situation to enter or stay on their territory, States increasingly resort to repressive measures, such as criminalization of irregular migration, administrative detention and expulsion. Criminalization of irregular migration fosters and promotes public perceptions that migrant workers and members of their families in an irregular situation are "illegal", second-class individuals, or unfair competitors for jobs and social benefits, thereby fuelling anti-immigration public discourses, discrimination and xenophobia. Moreover, migrant workers and members of their families in an irregular situation generally live in fear of being reported to the immigration authorities by public service providers or other officials, or by private individuals, which limits their access to fundamental human rights, as well as their access to justice, and makes them more vulnerable to labour and other types of exploitation and abuse.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- The term "migrant workers in an irregular situation" is defined in article 5 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (the Convention), which specifies that migrant workers or members of their families are considered as non-documented or in an irregular situation if they are not authorized to enter, to stay or to engage in a remunerated activity in the State of employment pursuant to the law of that State and to international agreements to which it is a party.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- The situation of migrant workers may be irregular either because they have entered the State of employment in an unauthorized way and are thus not authorized to stay, reside or work in that State, or because they overstay the period or otherwise violate the conditions of their authorized stay. Regular migrants may also lose their status through no fault of their own due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances affecting them or family members. The Committee emphasizes that whatever the modalities of their stay, migrant workers can never be deprived of their fundamental rights, as protected under Part III of the Convention, by virtue of their irregular situation.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Part III of the Convention protects the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families, including those in an irregular situation. Most of the rights protected in Part III are common to a host of international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Among the civil and political rights protected in Part III, the right of migrant workers to liberty and security of person (art. 16) and the right of migrant workers deprived of their liberty to be treated with humanity (art. 17) have been contextualized, taking into account the situation of this group of rights-holders. Specific rights of migrant workers that are either not explicitly protected in other human rights treaties include their protection against unauthorized confiscation or destruction of personal documents (art. 21), procedural safeguards in individual expulsion proceedings (art. 22) and the right to have recourse to consular or diplomatic protection and assistance (art. 23). Among the economic, social and cultural rights of all migrant workers, the right to respect for their cultural identity (art. 31) and the right to transfer their earnings and savings upon termination of their stay in the State of employment (art. 32) are Convention-specific. In addition, Part III provides for information rights (art. 33) and affirms the obligation of all migrant workers and members of their families to comply with the laws of the State of employment or transit (art. 34).
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- The Committee notes that the Convention provides only for a minimum standard of protection. Article 81, paragraph 1, states that nothing shall prevent States parties from granting more favourable rights or freedoms than those set out in the Convention to migrant workers and members of their families, including those in an irregular situation, by virtue of the law and practice of, or any bilateral or multilateral treaty in force for, the State party concerned. The Committee is of the view that a State's obligation under the Convention must be read with respect to the core human rights treaties and other relevant international instruments to which it is a party. Although separate and freestanding, these treaties are complementary and mutually reinforcing.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- The rights guaranteed to migrants in an irregular situation in other international human rights treaties often have a wider scope than their counterparts in Part III of the Convention. These treaties also contain additional rights. The rights guaranteed in those treaties generally apply to everyone, including migrants and other non-nationals, without discrimination of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, including immigration status.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 32b
- Paragraph text
- [In line with articles 64 and 65, States of origin and employment are encouraged to cooperate on:] The use of standard, unified and binding employment contracts, with fair, full and clear conditions and labour standards that are enforceable - and enforced - by systems of law in countries both of origin and employment. Such standard contracts, as well as services where migrant domestic workers can receive counselling and guidance or submit complaints, could also usefully be included in bilateral and multilateral agreements between countries of origin and employment;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- Article 16, paragraph 8, provides for the right of all migrant workers and members of their families who are deprived of their liberty by arrest or detention to take proceedings before a court, in order that the court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of their detention. If the court finds that the detention is unlawful, it must order the release of the detained migrant worker. The Committee considers that mandatory detention of migrant workers and members of their families in an irregular situation is incompatible with article 16, paragraph 8, if the possibility of judicial review is confined to a formal assessment of whether the migrant worker concerned entered the State party without a valid entry permit, without the possibility of release if the detention is incompatible with article 16, paragraph 4.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- The Committee considers that anyone arrested and detained solely for immigration purposes should be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power to review the lawfulness of the arrest and/or detention and the continued necessity of such arrest or detention; and to order unconditional release and/or less coercive measures, if warranted. Further reviews of the continued necessity and lawfulness of the detention should be carried out at regular intervals by a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power. The burden of proof must rest on the detaining authorities to demonstrate that the presumption in favour of liberty should be displaced. The migrant worker must have access to legal representation and advice, if necessary free of charge, to challenge the lawfulness of detention. Children, and in particular unaccompanied or separated children, should never be detained solely for immigration purposes.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Article 16, paragraph 8, of the Convention provides for the right of migrant workers attending such proceedings to an interpreter, if necessary, without cost to them, if they cannot understand or speak the language used. In the Committee's view, States parties should take effective measures to ensure that all migrant workers held in migration detention centres, including those who opt for voluntary repatriation, are properly informed of their rights in a language they understand, especially with regard to their rights to consular assistance, to challenge the lawfulness of their detention and/or to release, to request asylum and to receive information about protection measures available to victims or witnesses of trafficking in persons.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- In the Committee's view, any custodial or non-custodial measure restricting the right to liberty must be exceptional and always based on a detailed and individualized assessment. Such assessment should consider the necessity and appropriateness of any restriction of liberty, including whether it is proportional to the objective to be achieved. The principle of proportionality requires States parties to detain migrant workers only as a last resort, and to give preference to less coercive measures, especially non-custodial measures, whenever such measures suffice to achieve the objective pursued. In all such cases, the least intrusive and restrictive measure possible in each individual case should be applied.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- Article 25, paragraph 1, provides for migrant workers, irrespective of their status, to enjoy equal treatment to that of nationals in respect of remuneration, other conditions of work and terms of employment. While States parties may refuse migrant workers who do not have work permits access to their labour markets, once an employment relationship has been initiated and until it is terminated, all migrant workers, including those in an irregular situation, are entitled to equal conditions of work and terms of employment. The conditions of work and terms of employment listed in article 25, paragraph 1(a) and (b), are non-exhaustive examples. The equal treatment principle also covers any other matter that, according to national law and practice, is considered a working condition or term of employment, such as maternity protection.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- With regard to article 26, paragraph 2, the Committee notes that similar limitations can be found in article 8, paragraph 1(a), of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and in article 22, paragraph 2, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It refers to the jurisprudence of the relevant treaty bodies for the purposes of interpreting what constitute permissible restrictions under article 26, paragraph 2, of the Convention.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Children’s personal data, in particular biometric data, should only be used for child protection purposes, with strict enforcement of appropriate rules on collection, use and retention of, and access to, data. The Committees urge due diligence regarding safeguards in the development and implementation of data systems, and in the sharing of data between authorities and/or countries. States parties should implement a “firewall” and prohibit the sharing and use for immigration enforcement of the personal data collected for other purposes, such as protection, remedy, civil registration and access to services. This is necessary to uphold data protection principles and protect the rights of the child, as stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- The Committees are of the opinion that, in order to fulfil the rights of all children in the context of international migration, the following elements should be part of the policies and practices to be developed and implemented: (a) comprehensive, inter-institutional policies between child protection and welfare authorities and other key bodies, including on social protection, health, education, justice, migration and gender, and between regional, national and local governments; (b) adequate resources, including budgetary, aimed at ensuring effective implementation of policies and programmes; and (c) continuous and periodic training of child protection, migration and related officials on the rights of children, migrants and refugees and on statelessness, including intersectional discrimination.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- The Committees reaffirm the application of articles 41 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and 81 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, and reiterate that the provisions in domestic and international legislation that are the most conducive to the realization of the rights of all children in the context of international migration shall apply in cases where standards differ. Furthermore, a dynamic interpretation of the Conventions based on a child-centred approach is necessary to ensure their effective implementation and the respect, protection and fulfilment of the rights of all children in the context of the increasing number of challenges that migration poses for children.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The principle of non-discrimination shall be at the centre of all migration policies and procedures, including border control measures, and regardless of the migration status of children or their parents. Any differential treatment of migrants shall be lawful and proportionate, in pursuit of a legitimate aim and in line with the child’s best interests and international human rights norms and standards. Similarly, States parties should ensure that migrant children and their families are integrated into receiving societies through the effective realization of their human rights and access to services in an equal manner with nationals.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- The Committees recommend that the States parties put special emphasis on the policies and related regulations about the prevention of discriminatory practices towards migrant and refugee children with disabilities and the implementation of necessary policies and programmes for ensuring the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrant and refugee children with disabilities on an equal basis with children who are nationals of the States, and taking into consideration the provisions enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- In the context of international migration, children may be in a situation of double vulnerability as children and as children affected by migration who (a) are migrants themselves, either alone or with their families, (b) were born to migrant parents in countries of destination or (c) remain in their country of origin while one or both parents have migrated to another country. Additional vulnerabilities could relate to their national, ethnic or social origin; gender; sexual orientation or gender identity; religion; disability; migration or residence status; citizenship status; age; economic status; political or other opinion; or other status.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- The lack of birth registration may have many negative impacts on the enjoyment of children’s rights, such as child marriage, trafficking, forced recruitment and child labour. Birth registrations may also help to achieve convictions against those who have abused a child. Unregistered children are at particular risk of becoming stateless when born to parents who are in an irregular migration situation, due to barriers to acquiring nationality in the country of origin of the parents as well as to accessing birth registration and nationality at the place of their birth.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Infants
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure that children in the context of international migration have a standard of living adequate for their physical, mental, spiritual and moral development. As provided in article 27 (3) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. States, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- States parties should develop detailed guidelines on standards of reception facilities, assuring adequate space and privacy for children and their families. States should take measures to ensure an adequate standard of living in temporary locations, such as reception facilities and formal and informal camps, ensuring that these are accessible to children and their parents, including persons with disabilities, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. States should ensure that residential facilities do not restrict children’s day-to-day movements unnecessarily, including de facto restriction of movement.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that States parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the Convention to each child within its jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind; this includes discrimination against children on the basis of their or their parents’ migration status. The Committees therefore urge States parties to provide equitable access to economic, social and cultural rights. States are encouraged to expeditiously reform legislation, policies and practices that discriminate against migrant children and their families, including those in an irregular situation, or prevent them from effectively accessing services and benefits, for example social assistance.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- Every migrant child should have access to health care equal to that of nationals, regardless of their migration status. This includes all health services, whether preventive or curative, and mental, physical or psychosocial care, provided in the community or in health-care institutions. States have an obligation to ensure that children’s health is not undermined as a result of discrimination, which is a significant factor contributing to vulnerability; the implications of multiple forms of discrimination should also be addressed. Attention should be paid to addressing the gender-specific impacts of reduced access to services. In addition, migrant children should be provided full access to age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information and services.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- All children in the context of international migration, irrespective of status, shall have full access to all levels and all aspects of education, including early childhood education and vocational training, on the basis of equality with nationals of the country where those children are living. This obligation implies that States should ensure equal access to quality and inclusive education for all migrant children, irrespective of their migration status. Migrant children should have access to alternative learning programmes where necessary and participate fully in examinations and receive certification of their studies.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- With respect to social security, migrant children and their families shall have the right to the same treatment granted to nationals, insofar as they fulfil the requirements provided for by the applicable legislation of the State and the applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties. The Committees consider that in cases of necessity, States should provide emergency social assistance to migrant children and their families regardless of their migration status, without any discrimination.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- The Committees are aware that insufficient financial resources often hinder the exercise of the right to family reunification and that the lack of proof of adequate family income can constitute a barrier to reunion procedures. States are encouraged to provide adequate financial support and other social services to those children and their parent(s), siblings and, where applicable, other relatives.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 55b
- Paragraph text
- [States that have not yet done so are encouraged to ratify or accede to:] The Convention on the Rights of the Child;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 55c
- Paragraph text
- [States that have not yet done so are encouraged to ratify or accede to:] The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children child prostitution and child pornography;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 55d
- Paragraph text
- [States that have not yet done so are encouraged to ratify or accede to:] The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 55e
- Paragraph text
- [States that have not yet done so are encouraged to ratify or accede to:] The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Food & Nutrition
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 5a
- Paragraph text
- [The present joint general comment builds on the increasing attention that both Committees have given to the rights of children in the context of international migration through a number of initiatives, including:] Committee on the Rights of the Child general comment No. 6 (2005) on treatment of unaccompanied and separated children outside their country of origin, which includes a set of recommendations specifically for those migrant children outside their country of origin who are unaccompanied and separated;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 32e
- Paragraph text
- [The Committees stress that States parties should:] Develop procedures and define criteria to provide guidance to all relevant persons involved with migration procedures on determining the best interests of the child and on giving them due weight as a primary consideration, including in entry, residence, resettlement and return procedures, and develop mechanisms aimed at monitoring its proper implementation in practice;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 32h
- Paragraph text
- [The Committees stress that States parties should:] Conduct a best-interests determination in cases that could lead to the expulsion of migrant families due to their migration status, in order to evaluate the impact of deportation on children’s rights and development, including their mental health;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 5d
- Paragraph text
- [The present joint general comment builds on the increasing attention that both Committees have given to the rights of children in the context of international migration through a number of initiatives, including:] The increasing number of recommendations made by both Committees in recent years to States parties to their respective Conventions on a variety of human rights issues that affect children’s rights in the context of international migration.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- The objective of the present joint general comment is to provide authoritative guidance on legislative, policy and other appropriate measures that should be taken to ensure full compliance with the obligations under the Conventions to fully protect the rights of children in the context of international migration.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child underscores the importance of children’s participation, providing for children to express their views freely and to have those views taken into account with due weight, according to age, maturity and the evolving capacity of the child.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- States parties should take all appropriate measures aimed at ensuring children’s right to be heard in the immigration procedures concerning their parents, in particular where the decision could affect the children’s rights, such as the right to not be separated from their parents, except when such separation is in their best interests (see art. 9 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child).
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 32c
- Paragraph text
- [The Committees stress that States parties should:] Ensure that the principle of the best interests of the child is appropriately integrated, consistently interpreted and applied through robust, individualized procedures in all legislative, administrative and judicial proceedings and decisions, and in all migration policies and programmes that are relevant to and have an impact on children, including consular protection policies and services. Adequate resources should be put in place in order to ensure this principle is applied in practice;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 17i
- Paragraph text
- [More specifically, and in particular in the context of best interest assessments and within best interest determination procedures, children should be guaranteed the right to:] For unaccompanied and separated children, have appointed a competent guardian, as expeditiously as possible, who serves as a key procedural safeguard to ensure respect for their best interests;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 17j
- Paragraph text
- [More specifically, and in particular in the context of best interest assessments and within best interest determination procedures, children should be guaranteed the right to:] Be fully informed throughout the entire procedure, together with their guardian and legal adviser, including information on their rights and all relevant information that could affect them.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- The Committees reaffirm the need to address international migration through international, regional or bilateral cooperation and dialogue and through a comprehensive and balanced approach, recognizing the roles and responsibilities of countries of origin, transit, destination and return in promoting and protecting the human rights of children in the context of international migration, so as to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration, with full respect for human rights and avoiding approaches that might aggravate their vulnerability. In particular, cross-border case management procedures should be established in an expeditious manner in conformity with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto and the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children. In addition, cooperation could include initiatives aimed at strengthening financial and technical assistance as well as resettlement programmes to countries which host a large number of displaced persons, including children, from other countries and are in need of assistance. All practices should be fully in line with international human rights and refugee law obligations.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- Should a child’s identity documents have been procured irregularly on his or her behalf and the child requests the restoration of his or her identity documents, States parties are encouraged to adopt flexible measures in the best interests of the child, specifically by issuing corrected documents and avoiding prosecution where falsification has been committed.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 30b
- Paragraph text
- [Article 16, paragraph 7, provides for the right of migrant workers who are deprived of their liberty to communicate with the consular or diplomatic authorities of their State of origin or those of a State representing the interests thereof. It also requires State parties to:] Facilitate any communication between the person concerned and the said authorities;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 62d (ii)
- Paragraph text
- [While the States of employment have the primary responsibility to protect the rights of migrant domestic workers, embassies and consulates of States of origin should play an active role in protecting the rights of their nationals employed as migrant domestic workers. In particular, embassies and consulates of countries of origin that are present in countries where migrant domestic workers are employed are encouraged, in coordination with the authorities in the countries of employment, to:] [Receive, record and report information that can be useful to migrant domestic workers in the country of employment as well as to prospective migrant workers back home regarding:] The experience of migrant domestic workers, including travel and arrival, migration-related fees and debt, the effects on family, workplace conflicts, issues of rights and access to justice.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- International sources estimate that between 10 and 15 per cent of the world's international migrants are in an irregular situation, although the very nature of irregular migration makes it difficult to find reliable data on the scale of this phenomenon. While the economies of developing countries cannot absorb the large numbers of young men and, increasingly, women, seeking employment, population decline and ageing have reduced the labour force in developed countries, thereby generating a demand for low and middle-skilled migrant workers in many sectors of the economy. However, that demand has not been matched by a corresponding increase in regular migration channels. As a result, employers often resort to migrant workers in an irregular situation to fill the gaps.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- Noting the omission of express references to either domestic work or domestic workers in a broad range of national and international frameworks of law, the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (hereinafter referred to as the Committee), at its eleventh session in October 2009, resolved to issue a general comment in order to provide States with guidance on how to implement their obligations under the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and the Members of Their Families (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) with respect to migrant domestic workers. The Committee organized a Day of General Discussion on this subject on 14 October 2009, which generated strong participation by States, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and trade organizations, civil society and migrants, including a number of written perspectives and studies. This general comment draws upon those contributions as well as the Committee's experience in reviewing with States parties their reports on the implementation of the Convention.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- As defined by the Convention, the term "migrant worker" refers to any person who "is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national". Accordingly, the Convention expressly provides protection to migrant workers and their family members not only when the migrants are actually working, but "during the entire migration process of migrant workers and members of their families, which comprises preparation for migration, departure, transit and the entire period of stay and remunerated activity in the State of employment as well as return to the State of origin or the State of habitual residence".
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- The withholding of passports by the employer is widespread, reinforcing isolation and dependence and restricting the movement of the migrant worker out of the house as well as out of the country.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Labour law. In many countries, domestic workers are not legally recognized as "workers" entitled to labour protection. A number of premises and special definitions are used to exclude domestic workers from the protection of labour laws, including the consideration that they work for private persons, who are not considered to be "employers". Equally, traditional perceptions of domestic work as tasks associated with unpaid work in the home performed by women and girls as well as traditional perceptions of domestic workers as either being "family helpers" often militate against the extension of national labour law to effectively cover domestic work. Because of their de facto and/or de jure, "unrecognized" status as "workers", domestic workers are unable to exercise the rights and freedoms granted by labour law to other workers.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Article 7 prohibits both direct and indirect discrimination against migrant workers. In line with the jurisprudence of other international human rights mechanisms, indirect discrimination against migrant workers occurs when a law, policy or practice appears neutral at face value, but has a disproportionate impact on their rights. For example, requiring birth certificates for school enrolment may disproportionately affect migrant workers in an irregular situation, who often do not possess, or have been denied, such certificates.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 28c
- Paragraph text
- [For nationals considering whether to migrate for domestic work, States parties should take appropriate measures to disseminate information on their rights under the Convention as well as the conditions of their admission and employment and their rights and obligations under the law and practice of other States (article 33). Such awareness-raising could include:] Essential information and perspectives on: (i) Migration-related fees and debt; (ii) Family aspects and effects on family life, such as separation, right to family visits or return, pregnancy during employment, etc.; and (iii) Other risks of domestic work outside the country of origin.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- Article 16, paragraph 5, requires States parties to inform migrant workers and members of their families who are arrested of the reasons for their arrest at the time of arrest and, as far as possible, in a language they understand. Moreover, they must be promptly informed of the charges against them in a language they understand. In order to comply with this obligation, States parties should consider preparing standard notification forms, containing, inter alia, information on available remedies, in the languages that are most frequently used or understood by migrant workers in an irregular situation in the State party concerned. Such standard notification forms, however, should be complementary to the issuance of a detention order containing factual information and the legal grounds pertaining to the arrest.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 29c
- Paragraph text
- [For workers who have made the decision to migrate for domestic work, States parties are encouraged to develop more specific pre-departure training and awareness-raising programmes. Such training may be developed in consultation with relevant non-governmental organizations, migrant domestic workers and their families, and recognized and reliable recruitment agencies, and could cover:] Awareness-raising training, including issues of migration, working conditions, social security, debt, finance and work-related fees and basic knowledge on methods of conflict resolution, and avenues for redress;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 29e
- Paragraph text
- [For workers who have made the decision to migrate for domestic work, States parties are encouraged to develop more specific pre-departure training and awareness-raising programmes. Such training may be developed in consultation with relevant non-governmental organizations, migrant domestic workers and their families, and recognized and reliable recruitment agencies, and could cover:] Contact information for emergency assistance, including embassies and consulates and relevant civil society organizations in countries of employment; and
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 29f
- Paragraph text
- [For workers who have made the decision to migrate for domestic work, States parties are encouraged to develop more specific pre-departure training and awareness-raising programmes. Such training may be developed in consultation with relevant non-governmental organizations, migrant domestic workers and their families, and recognized and reliable recruitment agencies, and could cover:] Other information needed on logistics, safety, health, human rights issues and points of assistance during the entire migratory process.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 21e
- Paragraph text
- [Migrant workers in an irregular situation, particularly women, are at increased risk of ill-treatment and other forms of violence at the hands of both private actors, including employers, and State officials which includes sexual violence, beatings, threats, psychological abuse, and denial of access to medical care, for example. Under article 16, paragraph 2, States parties have an obligation to protect all migrant workers and members of their families against violence, physical injury, threats and intimidation, whether by public officials or by private individuals, groups or institutions. This obligation requires States parties to:] Provide human rights training for public officials; and
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Article 17, paragraph 3, underlines the non-punitive nature of administrative detention. It provides for migrant workers or members of their families who are detained for violation of provisions relating to migration to be held, insofar as is practicable, separately from convicted persons or pretrial detainees. Given that such detention can last for an extended period, migrant detainees should be kept in special facilities that are specifically designed for that purpose. Moreover, migrant workers and members of their families should not be subjected to any greater restriction or severity than is necessary to ensure safe custody and good order. The Committee is of the view that States parties should look for alternatives to administrative detention and that administrative detention should only be used as a last resort.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- The Committee considers that administrative detention of migrant workers should, as a rule, take place in public establishments. Privately run migrant detention centres pose particular difficulties in terms of monitoring. States parties cannot absolve themselves of their human rights obligations by contracting out the detention of persons to private commercial enterprises. If States parties delegate such functions to private companies, they must ensure respect for the rights of detained migrant workers, as provided for under article 17 of the Convention. States parties must ensure that detention centre personnel are trained in human rights, cultural sensitivity, and age and gender considerations.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- Article 17, paragraph 5, guarantees detained and imprisoned migrant workers and members of their families the same rights as nationals with regard to visits by their family members. If the law of a State party grants certain visitation rights, such as direct contact with visiting family members, to nationals who are deprived of their liberty, it must ensure equal rights for detained or imprisoned migrant workers, including those in an irregular situation. States parties shall eliminate de facto discrimination against detained migrant workers by removing practical barriers to their equal enjoyment of visitation rights, such as detention in a remote location, making access difficult for family members.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Article 17, paragraph 7, contains a specific non-discrimination clause providing for detained or imprisoned migrant workers and members of their families to enjoy the same rights as nationals of the State of employment or transit who are in the same situation. This provision has the effect of extending additional procedural safeguards, over and above those contained in article 17, to detained migrant workers, such as the right to communicate with the outside, including by telephone, access to health professionals and to education, if also provided to nationals.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- Article 22, paragraph 1, of the Convention explicitly prohibits collective expulsion and requires that each case of expulsion be examined and decided individually. States parties have an obligation to ensure that their expulsion procedures provide sufficient guarantees to ensure that the personal circumstances of each migrant worker are genuinely and individually taken into account. This obligation extends to all spaces over which a State party exercises effective control, which may include vessels on the high seas.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Article 22, paragraph 7, provides for migrant workers and members of their families who are subject to an expulsion decision to seek entry into a State other than their State of origin, without prejudice to the execution of the expulsion decision. The exercise of this choice on the part of the migrant worker and family members is subject to the consent of the third State.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- The Committee recalls that regularization is the most effective measure to address the extreme vulnerability of migrant workers and members of their families in an irregular situation. States parties should therefore consider policies, including regularization programmes, for avoiding or resolving situations whereby migrant workers and members of their families are in, or are at risk of falling into, an irregular situation (art. 69, para. 1).
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- The right to organize and to engage in collective bargaining is essential for migrant domestic workers to express their needs and defend their rights, in particular through trade unions (articles 26 and 40) and labour organizations.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- By virtue of their complementary mandates and shared commitment to strengthening protection of all children in the context of international migration, both Committees decided to develop these joint general comments. While the present comment is based on the provisions of both Conventions, it is important to underline that the human rights norms clarified herein are built on the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Therefore, the authoritative guidance contained in the present joint general comment is equally applicable to all States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and/or the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 6b
- Paragraph text
- [The present joint general comment also builds on other United Nations resolutions and reports, various outputs of the United Nations human rights mechanisms and United Nations, intergovernmental and civil society initiatives relating to children in the context of international migration, including:] The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, in which the Heads of State and Government undertook to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all refugee and migrant children, regardless of their status, and giving primary consideration at all times to the best interests of the child, and to comply with their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- The Committees acknowledge that the phenomenon of international migration affects all regions of the world and all societies and, increasingly, millions of children. While migration can bring positive outcomes to individuals, families and broader communities in countries of origin, transit, destination and return, the drivers of migration, in particular unsafe and/or irregular migration, are often directly related to violations of human rights, including the rights of the child as recognized in several human rights treaties, in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- The obligations of States parties under the Conventions apply to each child within their jurisdictions, including the jurisdiction arising from a State exercising effective control outside its borders. Those obligations cannot be arbitrarily and unilaterally curtailed either by excluding zones or areas from the territory of a State or by defining particular zones or areas as not or only partly under the jurisdiction of the State, including in international waters or other transit zones where States put in place migration control mechanisms. The obligations apply within the borders of the State, including with respect to those children who come under its jurisdiction while attempting to enter its territory.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- The Committees are of the view that addressing only de jure discrimination will not necessarily ensure de facto equality. Therefore, States parties shall fulfil the rights under the Conventions for children in the context of international migration by adopting positive measures to prevent, diminish and eliminate the conditions and attitudes that cause or perpetuate de facto discrimination against them. They should systematically record incidences of discrimination against children and/or their families in the context of international migration, and investigate and sanction such conduct appropriately and effectively.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- States parties should respect non-refoulement obligations deriving from international human rights, humanitarian, refugee and customary international law. The Committees highlight that the principle of non-refoulement has been interpreted by international human rights bodies, regional human rights courts and national courts to be an implicit guarantee flowing from the obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. It prohibits States from removing individuals, regardless of migration, nationality, asylum or other status, from their jurisdiction when they would be at risk of irreparable harm upon return, including persecution, torture, gross violations of human rights or other irreparable harm.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- The Committees recall that article 22 (1) of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and other international and regional human rights instruments forbid collective expulsions and require that each case that could eventually become an expulsion be examined and decided individually, ensuring the effective fulfilment of all the due process guarantees and the right to access to justice. States parties should adopt all measures necessary in order to prevent collective expulsions of migrant children and families.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Children that remain in their countries of origin may end up migrating irregularly and unsafely, seeking to be reunited with their parents and/or older siblings in destination countries. States should develop effective and accessible family reunification procedures that allow children to migrate in a regular manner, including children remaining in countries of origin who may migrate irregularly. States are encouraged to develop policies that enable migrants to regularly be accompanied by their families in order to avoid separation. Procedures should seek to facilitate family life and ensure that any restrictions are legitimate, necessary and proportionate. While this duty is primarily for receiving and transit countries, States of origin should also take measures to facilitate family reunification.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- The Committees are also aware that restrictive migration or asylum policies, including criminalization of irregular migration, the absence of sufficient safe, orderly, accessible and affordable regular migration channels or lack of adequate child protection systems, render migrant and asylum-seeking children, including unaccompanied or separated children, particularly vulnerable to suffering violence and abuse during their migration journey and in the countries of destination.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Furthermore, States should take the following actions to ensure the full and effective protection of migrant children from all forms of violence and abuse: - Take effective measures to ensure that they are protected from any form of slavery and commercial sexual exploitation and from being used for illicit activities or from any work that would jeopardize their health, safety or morals, including by becoming party to relevant conventions of the International Labour Organization - Take effective measures to protect them from all forms of violence and abuse, regardless of their migration status - Recognize and address the gender-specific vulnerable situations of girls and boys and children with disabilities as potential victims of trafficking for sexual, labour and all other forms of exploitation - Ensure comprehensive protection, support services and access to effective redress mechanisms, including psychosocial assistance and information about those remedies, for migrant children and their families reporting cases of violence, abuse or exploitation to police or other relevant authorities, regardless of their migration status; children and parents must be able to safely report to police or other authorities as victims or witnesses without any risk of immigration enforcement as a result - Recognize the important role that can be played by community services and civil society organizations in regard to the protection of migrant children - Develop comprehensive policies aimed at addressing the root causes of all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse against migrant children, including adequate resources for their proper implementation
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Boys
- Children
- Families
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- With due respect to international labour standards related to the minimum age for admission to employment and the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, not all work carried out by migrant children who are above legal working age is exploitative or undertaken in hazardous conditions. The Committees remind States that migrant children above working age, irrespective of their status, should enjoy equal treatment to that of national children in respect of remuneration, other conditions of work and terms of employment.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- The Convention strikes a balance between the sovereign power of States parties to control their borders and to regulate the entry and stay of migrants workers and members of their families, on the one hand, and the protection of the rights, under Part III of the Convention, of all migrant workers and members of their families, including those in an irregular situation, on the other. This balance is reflected in article 79 of the Convention.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 30a
- Paragraph text
- [Article 16, paragraph 7, provides for the right of migrant workers who are deprived of their liberty to communicate with the consular or diplomatic authorities of their State of origin or those of a State representing the interests thereof. It also requires State parties to:] Inform the said authorities without delay of the arrest or detention of the migrant worker concerned, if he or she so requests;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- The Committees acknowledge that the lack of regular and safe channels for children and families to migrate contribute to children taking life-threatening and extremely dangerous migration journeys. The same is true for border control and surveillance measures that focus on repression rather than facilitating, regulating and governing mobility, including detention and deportation practices, lack of timely family reunification opportunities and lack of avenues for regularization.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- The Committees underline the interrelation between articles 2, 6 and 27 (1) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; States parties should ensure that children in the context of international migration, regardless of their status or that of their parents, have a standard of living adequate for their physical, mental, spiritual and moral development.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- The present joint general comment should be read in conjunction with other relevant general comments issued by the Committees; building upon those general comments and the evolving challenges children face in the context of international migration, it should also be read as authoritative guidance from the Committees as regards the rights of children in the context of international migration.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure that children in the context of international migration are treated first and foremost as children. States parties to the Conventions have a duty to comply with their obligations set out therein to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children in the context of international migration, regardless of their or their parents’ or legal guardians’ migration status.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- States parties should conduct a robust gender analysis of the specific impacts of migration policies and programmes on children of all genders. States parties should review and amend any gender-discriminatory restrictions on migration in law or practice that limit opportunities for girls or that do not recognize their capacity and autonomy to make their own decisions.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- In particular, the best interests of the child should be ensured explicitly through individual procedures as an integral part of any administrative or judicial decision concerning the entry, residence or return of a child, placement or care of a child, or the detention or expulsion of a parent associated with his or her own migration status.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 17b
- Paragraph text
- [More specifically, and in particular in the context of best interest assessments and within best interest determination procedures, children should be guaranteed the right to:] Be notified of the existence of a proceeding and of the decision adopted in the context of the immigration and asylum proceedings, its implications and possibilities for appeal;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 17c
- Paragraph text
- [More specifically, and in particular in the context of best interest assessments and within best interest determination procedures, children should be guaranteed the right to:] Have the immigration proceedings conducted by a specialized official or judge, and any interviews carried out in person by professionals trained in communicating with children;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 17d
- Paragraph text
- [More specifically, and in particular in the context of best interest assessments and within best interest determination procedures, children should be guaranteed the right to:] Be heard and take part in all stages of the proceedings and be assisted without charge by a translator and/or interpreter;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 17e
- Paragraph text
- [More specifically, and in particular in the context of best interest assessments and within best interest determination procedures, children should be guaranteed the right to:] Have effective access to communication with consular officials and consular assistance, and to receive child-sensitive rights-based consular protection;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 17f
- Paragraph text
- [More specifically, and in particular in the context of best interest assessments and within best interest determination procedures, children should be guaranteed the right to:] Be assisted by an attorney trained and/or experienced in representing children at all stages of the proceedings and communicate freely with the representative, and have access to free legal aid;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- The Committees acknowledge that a child’s physical and mental health can be affected by a variety of factors, including structural determinants such as poverty, unemployment, migration and population displacements, violence, discrimination and marginalization. The Committees are aware that migrant and refugee children may experience severe emotional distress and may have particular and often urgent mental health needs. Children should therefore have access to specific care and psychological support, recognizing that children experience stress differently from adults.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- Discrimination can often exacerbate insufficient financial and legal protection, and may force migrant children to postpone treatment until they are seriously ill. Attention should be paid to resolving the issues surrounding complicated health services that require prompt and extensive responses, in which discriminatory approaches may severely affect the health of migrant children and significantly delay their treatment and recovery period. The commitment of health professionals should be first to their patients and to upholding children’s health as a human right.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- Restrictions on adult migrants’ right to health on the basis of their nationality or migration status could also affect their children’s right to health, life and development. Therefore, a comprehensive approach to children’s rights should include measures directed at ensuring the right to health to all migrant workers and their families, regardless of their migration status, as well as measures aimed at ensuring an intercultural approach to health policies, programmes and practices.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- States should put in place adequate measures to recognize the child’s former education by acknowledging previously obtained school certificates and/or issuing new certification based on the child’s capacities and capabilities, to avoid creating stigmatization or penalization. This is equally applicable to countries of origin or third countries in the case of return.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- States should develop concrete measures to foster intercultural dialogue between migrant and host communities and to address and prevent xenophobia or any type of discrimination or related intolerance against migrant children. In addition, integrating human rights education, including on non-discrimination, as well as migration and migrants’ rights and children’s rights, within education curricula would contribute to preventing in xenophobic or any form of discriminatory attitudes that could affect migrants’ integration in the long term.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- The Committees recognize the negative impacts on children’s well-being of having an insecure and precarious migration status. The Committees therefore recommend that States ensure that there are clear and accessible status determination procedures for children to regularize their status on various grounds (such as length of residence).
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- In order to ensure that this comprehensive and balanced approach is consistent with the best interests of children, child protection/welfare agencies should have a key role in the development of any international, regional or bilateral agreements that affect the rights and treatment of children in the context of international migration. Bilateral, regional and international initiatives should be encouraged in order to facilitate family reunification, implement best interest assessment and determination, and guarantee children’s right to be heard and due process safeguards. Such initiatives should ensure access to justice in cross-border situations where children whose rights are affected in the country of transit or destination need it after they have returned to the country of origin or gone to a third country. In addition, States should ensure the participation of children and civil society organizations, including regional intergovernmental institutions, in these processes. States should also avail themselves of technical cooperation from the international community and United Nations agencies and entities, including the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Organization for Migration, for the implementation of migration policies in respect of children in line with the present joint general comment.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- Article 28 prohibits the refusal of such medical care to migrant workers because of an irregularity with regard to their stay and employment. States parties should not use health care as an instrument of immigration control, which would effectively prevent migrant workers in an irregular situation from contacting public health care providers out of fear of deportation. Toward this end, States parties shall not require public health institutions to report or otherwise share data on the migration status of a patient to immigration authorities, and health care providers should also not be required to do so. Moreover, States parties shall not conduct immigration enforcement operations on or near facilities providing medical care, as this would limit migrant workers and members of their families from accessing such care.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Article 30 of the Convention protects the "basic right of access to education" of all children of migrant workers "on the basis of equality of treatment with nationals of the State concerned." Article 30 also provides that access to public preschool educational institutions or schools shall be without prejudice to the migration status of the child concerned or parents of the child. The Committee, in accordance with article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, is of the view that States parties must provide free and compulsory primary education for all, including children of migrant workers, regardless of their migration status. As such, States parties have an obligation to eliminate all direct costs of schooling, such as school fees, as well as alleviate the adverse impact of indirect costs, such as expenses for school materials and uniforms. Access to secondary education by children of migrant workers must be ensured on the basis of equality of treatment with nationals. Accordingly, whenever children who are nationals have access to free secondary education, States parties must ensure equal access by children of migrant workers, irrespective of their migration status. Similarly, when States parties provide different forms of secondary education, including vocational education, they should also make them accessible to children of migrant workers. The same principle applies to free preschool education or to scholarship schemes. Therefore, whenever children who are nationals have access to free preschool education or scholarships, States parties must ensure equal access by children of migrant workers, irrespective of their migration status.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- The Committee notes that migrant children may suffer from multiple forms of discrimination due to race, ethnicity, gender, and disability, for example. The principle of equality of treatment requires States parties to eliminate any discrimination against migrant children in their educational systems. States parties must therefore avoid segregated schooling and the application of different standards of treatment to children of migrant workers as well as eliminate any forms of discrimination against children of migrant workers in classrooms. States parties also need to ensure that effective programmes, policies and mechanisms are in place to prevent discrimination against these children.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- To ensure access to education, the Committee is also of the view that States parties shall not require schools to report or share data on the regular or irregular status of pupils or their parents to immigration authorities or conduct immigration enforcement operations on or near school premises, as this would limit access to education by children of migrant workers. States parties should also clearly inform school administrators, teachers and parents that they are not required to do so either and provide them with training on the educational rights of children of migrant workers.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- While noting that the obligation of the State of employment to endeavour to facilitate the teaching of the mother tongue and culture is explicitly accorded to the children of migrant workers in a regular situation pursuant to article 45, paragraph 3, of the Convention, the Committee emphasizes that the right to respect for one's cultural identity (art. 31) belongs to all migrant workers and members of their families, including children. Considering these two provisions together, along with article 29, paragraph 1 (c), of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which applies to all children, the Committee is of the view that States parties should also ensure access for children of migrant workers in an irregular situation to mother-tongue instruction if already available to children of migrant workers who are documented as having the same mother tongue.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 27c
- Paragraph text
- [A number of factors make it difficult for migrant domestic workers to claim their rights and seek redress in case of violations, including the fact that:] Migrant domestic workers who depend on their employers for their immigration status may not report abuse for fear of arrest, detention or deportation. In some countries, if the victim brings a formal complaint against the employer, he or she can neither seek alternative employment while the case is in court, nor leave the country for the duration of the case. These restrictions, and the long periods it may take for cases to be resolved, often lead to domestic workers choosing not to report complaints or withdrawing their cases in order to return home more quickly.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 29a
- Paragraph text
- [For workers who have made the decision to migrate for domestic work, States parties are encouraged to develop more specific pre-departure training and awareness-raising programmes. Such training may be developed in consultation with relevant non-governmental organizations, migrant domestic workers and their families, and recognized and reliable recruitment agencies, and could cover:] A comprehensive "know your rights" curriculum, covering both international and national frameworks, using the Convention as a reference;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 29b
- Paragraph text
- [For workers who have made the decision to migrate for domestic work, States parties are encouraged to develop more specific pre-departure training and awareness-raising programmes. Such training may be developed in consultation with relevant non-governmental organizations, migrant domestic workers and their families, and recognized and reliable recruitment agencies, and could cover:] Know your obligations orientation to essential aspects of the law and culture of the country of employment;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- In order to enable detained migrant workers to avail themselves effectively of the rights under (c) above, States parties shall provide the relevant information without delay, that is, upon or shortly after admission to the facility where they are deprived of their liberty and preferably in a language they understand. In relation to (a) above, the Committee emphasizes that the detaining State shall only contact the said authorities if this is explicitly requested by the detained migrant worker. In particular, migrant workers with potential protection needs shall not be brought to the attention of the said authorities without their knowledge and consent.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- Article 16 protects the right of migrant workers and members of their families to liberty and security of person (para. 1), and provides that identity controls of migrant workers must comply with the procedure established by law (para. 3). Article 16, paragraph 4, complements article 9, paragraph 1, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adding that migrant workers and members of their families shall not be subjected "individually or collectively" to arbitrary arrest or detention. In order not to be arbitrary, arrest and detention of migrant workers and members of their families, including those in an irregular situation, must be prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate aim under the Convention, be necessary in the specific circumstances and proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- The Committee considers that crossing the border of a country in an unauthorized manner or without proper documentation, or overstaying a permit of stay does not constitute a crime. Criminalizing irregular entry into a country exceeds the legitimate interest of States parties to control and regulate irregular migration, and leads to unnecessary detention. While irregular entry and stay may constitute administrative offences, they are not crimes per se against persons, property or national security.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- Article 27, paragraph 1, provides that migrant workers' right to social security is subject to the applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties and that the competent authorities of the State of origin and the State of employment can at any time establish the necessary arrangements to determine the modalities of the application of this benefit. As recommended in the ILO Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration, States parties should consider entering into bilateral, regional or multilateral agreements to provide social security coverage and benefits, as well as portability of social security entitlements, to migrant workers, including, as appropriate, to those in an irregular situation. However, article 27, paragraph 1, cannot be interpreted as depriving migrant workers of benefits to which they would otherwise be entitled under the applicable legislation of the State of employment, merely because that State has not signed a reciprocity agreement with their State of origin.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- Article 27, paragraph 2, states that where the applicable legislation does not allow migrant workers and members of their families a benefit, the State party concerned shall examine the possibility of reimbursing them the amount of contributions made by them with respect to that benefit on the basis of equality of treatment with nationals. In this respect, States parties shall provide objective reasons in each case in which the reimbursement of the said contributions is deemed impossible. A decision not to reimburse contributions made by a migrant worker or family member must not discriminate on the basis of his or her nationality or migration status. Furthermore, the Committee considers that a migrant worker's entitlement to social security benefits should not be affected by a change in workplace.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Detention can be particularly damaging to vulnerable categories of migrant workers, impacting negatively on their physical and mental health. These migrant workers and members of their families may include victims of torture, unaccompanied older persons, persons with disabilities and persons living with HIV/AIDS. Special measures should be taken to protect vulnerable people deprived of their liberty, including access to adequate health services, medication and counselling. Moreover, migrant workers with disabilities and members of their families with disabilities should be provided with "reasonable accommodation" to ensure their right to enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 30b
- Paragraph text
- [Where appropriate, States parties could also support pre-departure training offering:] Training for specific types of work, including key job skills where appropriate; and
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- States parties should ensure that migrant domestic workers are granted access to social security benefits on the basis of equal treatment with nationals (article 27).
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- States parties shall ensure that the best interests of the child are taken fully into consideration in immigration law, planning, implementation and assessment of migration policies and decision-making on individual cases, including in granting or refusing applications on entry to or residence in a country, decisions regarding migration enforcement and restrictions on access to social rights by children and/or their parents or legal guardians, and decisions regarding family unity and child custody, where the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration and thus have high priority.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 32d
- Paragraph text
- [The Committees stress that States parties should:] Ensure that all best-interests assessments and determinations developed and conducted give appropriate weight to fulfilling the rights of the child — in the short and long terms — in the decision-making processes affecting children; and ensure due process safeguards are established, including the right to free, qualified and independent legal representation. The best-interests assessment should be carried out by actors independent of the migration authorities in a multidisciplinary way, including a meaningful participation of authorities responsible for child protection and welfare and other relevant actors, such as parents, guardians and legal representatives, as well as the child;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 32f
- Paragraph text
- [The Committees stress that States parties should:] Assess and determine the best interests of the child at the different stages of migration and asylum procedures that could result in the detention or deportation of the parents due to their migration status. Best-interests determination procedures should be put in place in any decision that would separate children from their family, and the same standards applied in child custody, when the best interests of the child should be a primary consideration. In adoption cases, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- In addition, both the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families have emphasized that children should not be criminalized or subject to punitive measures, such as detention, because of their or their parents’ migration status. Irregular entry and stay do not constitute crimes per se against persons, property or national security. Criminalizing irregular entry and stay exceeds the legitimate interest of States parties to control and regulate migration, and leads to arbitrary detention.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- The right to family unity for migrants may intersect with States’ legitimate interests in making decisions on the entry or stay of non-nationals in their territory. However, children in the context of international migration and families should not be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy and family life. Separating a family by deporting or removing a family member from a State party’s territory, or otherwise refusing to allow a family member to enter or remain in the territory, may amount to arbitrary or unlawful interference with family life.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- The Committees are concerned about cases where children are separated from parents and placed in alternative care by child protection systems when there are no concerns related to parental abuse and neglect. Financial and material poverty, or conditions directly and uniquely attributable to such poverty, should never be the sole justification for removing a child from parental care, for receiving a child into alternative care or for preventing a child’s social reintegration. In this regard, States should provide appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities, including by providing social benefits and child allowances and other social support services regardless of the migration status of the parents or the child.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- The Committees are also of the opinion that based on article 18 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a comprehensive approach to the child’s right to a family environment in the context of migration should contemplate measures directed at enabling parents to fulfil their duties with regard to child development. Considering that irregular migration status of children and/or their parents may obstruct such goals, States should make available regular and non-discriminatory migration channels, as well as provide permanent and accessible mechanisms for children and their families to access long-term regular migration status or residency permits based on grounds such as family unity, labour relations, social integration and others.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- Under article 10 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, States parties are to ensure that applications for family reunification are dealt with in a positive, humane and expeditious manner, including facilitating the reunification of children with their parents. When the child’s relations with his or her parents and/or sibling(s) are interrupted by migration (in both the cases of the parents without the child, or of the child without his or her parents and/or sibling(s)), preservation of the family unit should be taken into account when assessing the best interests of the child in decisions on family reunification.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- The Committees reaffirm that, in all international, regional or bilateral cooperation agreements on border management and migration governance, the impacts of such initiatives on children’s rights should be duly considered and adaptations made as necessary to uphold the rights of the child. The Committees are concerned by the increase in bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements that focus on restricting migration, which have demonstrably negative impacts on children’s rights, and instead urge cooperation that facilitates safe, orderly and regular migration with full respect for human rights.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- States parties should disseminate widely the present joint general comment to all stakeholders, in particular parliaments, governmental authorities, including child protection and migration authorities and personnel, and the judiciary, at all national, regional and local levels. It should be made known to all children and all relevant professionals and stakeholders, including those working for and with children (i.e., judges, lawyers, police and other law enforcement entities, teachers, guardians, social workers, staff of public or private welfare institutions and shelters, and health-care providers), the media and civil society at large.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- Article 35 of the Convention clarifies that the fact that Part III protects the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families, irrespective of their migration status, cannot be interpreted as implying the regularization of the situation of migrant workers or members of their families in an irregular situation or any right to such regularization. While States parties have no obligation to regularize the situation of migrant workers or members of their families, they shall take appropriate measures, whenever migrant workers or members of their families within their territory are in an irregular situation, to ensure that such a situation does not persist (art. 69, para. 1). States parties shall therefore consider the possibility of regularizing the situation of such persons in each individual case, in accordance with applicable national legislation and bilateral or multilateral agreements, taking into account the circumstances of their entry, the duration of their stay and other relevant considerations, in particular those relating to their family situation (art. 69, para. 2). When States parties provide for the regularization of migrant workers in their national legislation, they must ensure that all migrant workers and members of their families in an irregular situation have non-discriminatory and effective access to such regularization procedures and that those procedures are not applied in an arbitrary manner (arts. 7 and 69).
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 5b
- Paragraph text
- [The present joint general comment builds on the increasing attention that both Committees have given to the rights of children in the context of international migration through a number of initiatives, including:] A day of general discussion held in Geneva in September 2012 by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, on the rights of all children in the context of international migration, for which the Committee drafted a background paper and adopted a report, with conclusions and recommendations;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 5c
- Paragraph text
- [The present joint general comment builds on the increasing attention that both Committees have given to the rights of children in the context of international migration through a number of initiatives, including:] The endorsement in 2016 by the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families of the recommended principles to guide actions concerning children on the move and other children affected by migration. In addition, both Committees are members of the Inter-Agency Working Group to End Child Immigration Detention;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 32j
- Paragraph text
- [The Committees stress that States parties should:] Provide guidance to all relevant authorities on the operationalization of the principle of the best interests of the child for migrant children, including children in transit, and develop mechanisms aimed at monitoring its proper implementation in practice;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- States parties should include in their periodic reports under article 73 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and article 44 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child information about the measures guided by the present joint general comment that they have implemented and their outcomes.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- [States that have not yet done so are encouraged to ratify or accede to:] States parties are encouraged to review, modify and/or withdraw reservations made upon ratification or accession, with a view to ensuring that children in the context of international migration fully enjoy all of their rights under both Conventions.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child places emphasis on the prevention of statelessness by specifying that States parties shall ensure the implementation of the rights of a child to be registered, to a name, to acquire a nationality and to know and be cared for by his or her parents. The same right is enshrined for all children of migrant workers in article 29 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 28b
- Paragraph text
- [For nationals considering whether to migrate for domestic work, States parties should take appropriate measures to disseminate information on their rights under the Convention as well as the conditions of their admission and employment and their rights and obligations under the law and practice of other States (article 33). Such awareness-raising could include:] Basic knowledge of applicable national and transnational legal frameworks;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- With regard to article 17, paragraph 8, the Committee considers that detention "for the purpose of verifying any infraction of provisions related to migration" covers the entire duration of administrative detention, and that, consequently, migrant workers and members of their families subjected to administrative detention shall not bear any costs arising therefrom.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 17h
- Paragraph text
- [More specifically, and in particular in the context of best interest assessments and within best interest determination procedures, children should be guaranteed the right to:] Appeal the decision to a higher court or independent authority, with suspensive effect;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- The Committees are of the view that the rupture of the family unit by the expulsion of one or both parents based on a breach of immigration laws related to entry or stay is disproportionate, as the sacrifice inherent in the restriction of family life and the impact on the life and development of the child is not outweighed by the advantages obtained by forcing the parent to leave the territory because of an immigration-related offence. Migrant children and their families should also be protected in cases where expulsions would constitute arbitrary interference with the right to family and private life. The Committees recommend that States provide avenues for status regularization for migrants in an irregular situation residing with their children, particularly when a child has been born or has lived in the country of destination for an extended period of time, or when return to the parent’s country of origin would be against the child’s best interests. Where the expulsion of parents is based on criminal offences, their children’s rights, including the right to have their best interests be a primary consideration and their right to be heard and have their views taken seriously, should be ensured, also taking into account the principle of proportionality and other human rights principles and standards.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure effective access of all migrant domestic workers to any medical care urgently required to avoid irreparable harm to their health (article 28). Particular attention should be given to women migrant domestic workers with irregular status, who are especially vulnerable during pregnancy, as they are often afraid to contact public health services out of fear of deportation. States should not require public health institutions providing care to report data on the regular or irregular status of a patient to immigration authorities.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- States should ensure that migrant domestic workers in a documented or regular situation enjoy equal treatment with nationals in relation to social and health services (article 43(1)(e)). Moreover, the Committee recalls the obligations assumed by States under other core international human rights treaties, notably the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to take appropriate measures towards ensuring to all persons within their jurisdiction, irrespective of their immigration status, the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and medical care, services and attention in the event of sickness.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- States of employment should ensure that all migrant domestic workers have access to mechanisms for bringing complaints about violations of their rights (articles 18, paragraph 1, and 83). States parties should ensure that such complaints are investigated in an appropriate manner and within a reasonable period of time and that cases of violations are appropriately sanctioned. To facilitate access to redress mechanisms, States parties could for example designate a domestic workers' Ombudsperson. States parties should also ensure that migrant domestic workers can obtain legal redress and remedies for violations of their rights by employers who enjoy diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- In order to ensure effective access to justice and remedies for all migrant domestic workers, the Committee considers that migrant domestic workers should be able to access courts and other justice mechanisms without fear of being deported as a consequence, and that migrant domestic workers should have access to temporary shelter when needed due to the abusive circumstances of their employment. States parties are encouraged to consider time-bound or expedited legal proceedings to address complaints by migrant domestic workers. Moreover, States parties are encouraged to enter into bilateral agreements in order to ensure that migrants who return to their country of origin may have access to justice in the country of employment, including to complain about abuse and to claim unpaid wages and benefits.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- States parties shall take appropriate measures to protect the unity of the families of migrant domestic workers in a regular situation (article 44, paragraph 1). In particular, migrant domestic workers should have reasonable opportunities for family contact and family-related mobility, including opportunities to communicate with family left behind, travel to participate in essential family matters such as funerals, and, especially in the case of long-term migrants, to visit spouses and children in other countries. States parties should ensure that children separated from one or both parents are allowed to maintain direct contact with both parents on a regular basis.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- As noted by the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the position of female migrants is different from that of male migrants with regard to, inter alia, the migration channels used, the sectors of the labour market where they are employed, the forms of abuse they suffer and the consequences and impact thereof. Recognizing that most domestic workers are women and girls and taking into consideration traditional roles, the gendered labour market, the universal prevalence of gender-based violence and the worldwide feminization of poverty and labour migration, States should incorporate a gender perspective in efforts to understand their specific problems and develop remedies to the gender-based discrimination that they face throughout the migration process.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- States parties should repeal sex-specific bans and discriminatory restrictions on women's migration on the basis of age, marital status, pregnancy or maternity status (articles 1 and 7), including restrictions that require women to get permission from their spouse or male guardian to obtain a passport or to travel (article 8) or bans on women migrant domestic workers marrying nationals or permanent residents (article 14), or securing independent housing. States parties should also repeal discriminatory laws, regulations and practices related to HIV, including those which result in the loss of work visas based on HIV status, and ensure that medical testing of migrant domestic workers, including tests for pregnancy or HIV, is only done voluntarily and subject to informed consent.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 62a
- Paragraph text
- [While the States of employment have the primary responsibility to protect the rights of migrant domestic workers, embassies and consulates of States of origin should play an active role in protecting the rights of their nationals employed as migrant domestic workers. In particular, embassies and consulates of countries of origin that are present in countries where migrant domestic workers are employed are encouraged, in coordination with the authorities in the countries of employment, to:] Ensure adequately trained staff and mechanisms (including telephone hotlines) to receive and address complaints made by migrant domestic workers, including through the provision of legal aid;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 62b
- Paragraph text
- [While the States of employment have the primary responsibility to protect the rights of migrant domestic workers, embassies and consulates of States of origin should play an active role in protecting the rights of their nationals employed as migrant domestic workers. In particular, embassies and consulates of countries of origin that are present in countries where migrant domestic workers are employed are encouraged, in coordination with the authorities in the countries of employment, to:] Provide counselling and facilitate appropriate shelter for migrant domestic workers, especially women and children, fleeing from abusive employment circumstances;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Regional human rights treaties protect all migrants against refoulement and collective expulsion. However, the procedural safeguards in individual expulsion proceedings in regional human rights treaties apply only to migrants who are lawfully within the territory of a State party. The rights protected in the European Social Charter apply to "foreigners only insofar as they are nationals of other Contracting Parties lawfully resident or working regularly within the territory of the Contracting Party concerned", or to migrant workers and their families "lawfully within their territories". The opinions of the European Committee of Social Rights, however, have held that the European Social Charter also applies to vulnerable categories of undocumented migrant children. Moreover, the right to education is guaranteed to all migrant children, regardless of their migration status, in all regional human rights systems.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- International labour standards adopted by the International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) apply to migrant workers, including those in an irregular situation, unless otherwise stated. The fundamental principles and rights at work set out in the eight fundamental ILO Conventions apply to all migrant workers, irrespective of their nationality and migration status. The 1998 ILO Declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work and its follow-up requires all ILO member States to promote and realize the principles concerning the fundamental rights enshrined in these Conventions. A number of other ILO standards of general application and those containing specific provisions on migrant workers in the areas of employment, labour inspection, social security, protection of wages, occupational safety and health, as well as in such sectors as agriculture, construction, hotels and restaurants, and domestic work, are of particular importance to migrant workers in an irregular situation. Lastly, in formulating national laws and policies concerning labour migration and the protection of migrant workers in an irregular situation, States are also guided by ILO Convention No. 97 (1949) concerning Migration for Employment (Revised), Convention No. 143 (1975) concerning Migrations in Abusive Conditions and the Promotion of Equality of Opportunity and Treatment of Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions), and the accompanying Recommendations Nos. 86 and 151.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- The Committee considers that access to urgent medical care must be ensured to all migrant workers on the basis of equality of treatment with nationals and thus on a non-discriminatory basis. Although medical care need not necessarily be free of charge, equality of treatment requires that the same rules for payment of fees or exemption from payment apply to migrant workers and members of their families as to nationals. States parties should prohibit the charging of excessive fees from migrant workers in an irregular situation or requiring immediate payment or proof of payment before the service is delivered. Urgent medical care should never be withheld due to the inability to pay. States parties should also ensure that migrant workers and members of their families are provided with information on the medical care provided and information about their health rights. States parties should also ensure that doctors and health professionals are provided with culturally sensitive training regarding health care for migrant workers and members of their families.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- In many countries, recruitment agencies, labour brokers, and other intermediaries charge exorbitant fees to migrant domestic workers and do not provide accurate information, meaningful preparation for migrants before travel, or written contracts. In particular, migrants are often not provided with information on their rights and on avenues for reporting abuse. Some prospective migrant domestic workers are deceived by illegal recruitment agents and lured into paying for fraudulent visas or other documentation and non-existent jobs.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- While transiting through foreign countries, women and girls are particularly at risk of being subjected to physical and sexual abuse by agents and intermediaries.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Upon arrival the migrants are often left stranded with high levels of debt from their migration and without legal papers and employment, rendering them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Even where contracts had been signed pre-departure, many migrant domestic workers are compelled to sign new contracts upon arrival, nearly always for less pay and often for different work conditions of employment and abode than had been agreed upon or promised and often in a language they do not understand, without legal counselling, and under duress.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 13h
- Paragraph text
- [In the workplace, many are subjected to abusive working conditions, including:] Inadequate, unsanitary and degrading living accommodations.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Many migrants are unable to seek remedies for violations of their rights by employers because they are not entitled to stay in the country of employment once the employment relation has been terminated. As a result migrant domestic workers may for example return to the country of origin with less pay than they are due and with no possibility of seeking compensation and remedies. Those who return to their countries of origin in order to escape an abusive work relationship often have no access to support mechanisms and no possibility of seeking legal remedies.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- A wide body of international treaties articulate human rights, including labour rights, basic to all human beings, including all workers. In line with other human rights treaties, the protection against abusive and exploitative labour conditions afforded under the Convention extends to all migrant workers, irrespective of their migration status. In this regard, the Committee notes with concern that, at national level, major categories of law often ignore, or explicitly exclude domestic work and workers in ways that contribute to exploitative labour practices and limit avenues for legal redress in cases of violations.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 21a
- Paragraph text
- [Migrant workers in an irregular situation, particularly women, are at increased risk of ill-treatment and other forms of violence at the hands of both private actors, including employers, and State officials which includes sexual violence, beatings, threats, psychological abuse, and denial of access to medical care, for example. Under article 16, paragraph 2, States parties have an obligation to protect all migrant workers and members of their families against violence, physical injury, threats and intimidation, whether by public officials or by private individuals, groups or institutions. This obligation requires States parties to:] Adopt and implement legislation prohibiting such acts;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 21b
- Paragraph text
- [Migrant workers in an irregular situation, particularly women, are at increased risk of ill-treatment and other forms of violence at the hands of both private actors, including employers, and State officials which includes sexual violence, beatings, threats, psychological abuse, and denial of access to medical care, for example. Under article 16, paragraph 2, States parties have an obligation to protect all migrant workers and members of their families against violence, physical injury, threats and intimidation, whether by public officials or by private individuals, groups or institutions. This obligation requires States parties to:] Effectively investigate cases of abuse and violence;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 21f
- Paragraph text
- [Migrant workers in an irregular situation, particularly women, are at increased risk of ill-treatment and other forms of violence at the hands of both private actors, including employers, and State officials which includes sexual violence, beatings, threats, psychological abuse, and denial of access to medical care, for example. Under article 16, paragraph 2, States parties have an obligation to protect all migrant workers and members of their families against violence, physical injury, threats and intimidation, whether by public officials or by private individuals, groups or institutions. This obligation requires States parties to:] Effectively monitor the conduct of State agents, and regulate that of private persons and entities, with a view to preventing such acts.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- The reference to "contributions" in article 27, paragraph 2, does not imply that "social security," under article 27, paragraph 1, refers only to contributory social security schemes. Such a narrow reading would be contrary to article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which recognizes "social security" as "including social insurance." Recalling that article 9 of the Covenant applies to all migrant workers, regardless of their legal status and documentation, the Committee considers that "social security" in article 27 of the Convention also covers existing non-contributory social benefits, and that migrant workers in an irregular situation shall have access to such benefits on a non-discriminatory basis, to the extent that the applicable legislation of the State party concerned provides for such an entitlement.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- The Committee considers that in cases of extreme poverty and vulnerability, States parties should provide emergency social assistance to migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families, including emergency services for persons with disabilities, for as long as they might require it. It recalls that even if many migrant workers in an irregular situation do not participate in contributory schemes, they contribute to financing social protection schemes and programmes by paying indirect taxes.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Article 28 of the Convention provides for migrant workers and members of their families to have the right to receive any medical care that is urgently required for the preservation of their life or the avoidance of irreparable harm to their health on the basis of equality of treatment with nationals. Article 28, however, read together with other international human rights instruments, may create broader obligations for States parties to both instruments. Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides for the right to the highest attainable standard of health for all persons. States parties are therefore obliged to ensure that all persons, irrespective of their migration status, have effective access to at least a minimum level of health care on a non-discriminatory basis. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considers this to encompass primary health care, as well as preventive, curative and palliative health services. The Committee on the Rights of the Child holds that every migrant child is entitled to the same health care as nationals under article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. To that effect, States parties shall ensure, inter alia, that all migrant workers and members of their families have access to essential medicines and that migrant children are provided with immunization against the major infectious diseases. They shall ensure that migrant women have access to appropriate prenatal and postnatal health care, safe reproductive health services, and to emergency obstetric care.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- States parties should include provisions for monitoring mechanisms of the working conditions of migrant domestic workers in national legislation and strengthen labour inspection services to carry out such monitoring and to receive, investigate and address complaints of alleged violations.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Every child, at all times, has a fundamental right to liberty and freedom from immigration detention. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has asserted that the detention of any child because of their or their parents’ migration status constitutes a child rights violation and contravenes the principle of the best interests of the child. In this light, both Committees have repeatedly affirmed that children should never be detained for reasons related to their or their parents’ migration status and States should expeditiously and completely cease or eradicate the immigration detention of children. Any kind of child immigration detention should be forbidden by law and such prohibition should be fully implemented in practice.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Immigration detention is understood by the Committees as any setting in which a child is deprived of his/her liberty for reasons related to his/her, or his/her parents’, migration status, regardless of the name and reason given to the action of depriving a child of his or her liberty, or the name of the facility or location where the child is deprived of liberty. “Reasons related to migration status” is understood by the Committees to be a person’s migratory or residence status, or the lack thereof, whether relating to irregular entry or stay or not, consistent with the Committees’ previous guidance.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- States parties should appoint a qualified legal representative for all children, including those with parental care, and a trained guardian for unaccompanied and separated children, as soon as possible on arrival, free of charge. Accessible complaints mechanisms for children should be ensured. Throughout the process, children should be offered the possibility to be provided with a translator in order that they may express themselves fully in their native language and/or receive support from someone familiar with the child’s ethnic, religious and cultural background. These professionals should be trained on the specific needs of children in the context of international migration, including gender, cultural, religious and other intersecting aspects.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- In the view of the Committees, the obligation of States parties under article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and article 9 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families include the protection and reduction — to the maximum extent possible — of migration-related risks faced by children, which may jeopardize a child’s right to life, survival and development. States, especially those of transit and destination, should devote special attention to the protection of undocumented children, whether unaccompanied and separated or with families, and to the protection of asylum-seeking children, stateless children and child victims of transnational organized crime, including trafficking, sale of children, commercial sexual exploitation of children and child marriage. States should also consider the specific vulnerable circumstances that could face migrant children on the basis of their gender and other factors, such as poverty, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or others, that may aggravate the child’s vulnerability to sexual abuse, exploitation, violence, among other human rights abuses, throughout the entire migratory process. Specific policies and measures, including access to child-friendly, gender-sensitive and safe judicial and non-judicial remedies, should be put in place in order to fully protect and assist such children, aiming to facilitate their ability to resume their lives with their rights as children fully respected, protected and fulfilled.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Nationality laws that discriminate with regard to the transmission or acquisition of nationality on the basis of prohibited grounds, including in relation to the child and/or his or her parents’ race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability and migration status, should be repealed. Furthermore, all nationality laws should be implemented in a non-discriminatory manner, including with regard to residence status in relation to the length of residency requirements, to ensure that every child’s right to a nationality is respected, protected and fulfilled.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- In cases of migrant families, including with children born to migrant parents, the Committees stress the interdependence between parental responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child under articles 5 and 18 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and labour rights for migrant workers under relevant provisions of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Therefore, States should, as far as possible, take measures to ensure that the rights at work of migrant parents, including those in an irregular situation, are fully respected.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- The Committees urge States parties to take all necessary measures to ensure that all children are immediately registered at birth and issued birth certificates, irrespective of their migration status or that of their parents. Legal and practical obstacles to birth registration should be removed, including by prohibiting data sharing between health providers or civil servants responsible for registration with immigration enforcement authorities; and not requiring parents to produce documentation regarding their migration status. Measures should also be taken to facilitate late registration of birth and to avoid financial penalties for late registration. Children who have not been registered should be ensured equal access to health care, protection, education and other social services.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Infants
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- States parties should disseminate widely the present joint general comment to all stakeholders, in particular parliaments, governmental authorities, including child protection and migration authorities and personnel, and the judiciary, at all national, regional and local levels. It should be made known to all children and all relevant professionals and stakeholders, including those working for and with children (i.e., judges, lawyers, police and other law enforcement entities, teachers, guardians, social workers, staff of public or private welfare institutions and shelters, and health-care providers), the media and civil society at large.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- The present joint general comment should be translated into relevant languages, and child-friendly/appropriate versions and formats accessible to persons with disabilities should be made available. Conferences, seminars, workshops and other events should be held to share good practices on how best to implement it. It should also be incorporated into the formal pre- and in-service training of all concerned professionals and to technical staff in particular, as well as to child protection, migration and law enforcement authorities and personnel, and should be made available to all national and local human rights institutions and other human rights civil society organizations.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- States parties shall ensure that all migrant children, independently of their migration status, have access to free and compulsory primary education as well as to secondary education on the basis of equality of treatment with nationals of the State concerned (article 30), and that the domestic work carried out by children does not interfere with their education. Schools should not be required to report data on the regular or irregular status of pupils to immigration authorities.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Migrant domestic workers 2011, para. 29d
- Paragraph text
- [For workers who have made the decision to migrate for domestic work, States parties are encouraged to develop more specific pre-departure training and awareness-raising programmes. Such training may be developed in consultation with relevant non-governmental organizations, migrant domestic workers and their families, and recognized and reliable recruitment agencies, and could cover:] Financial literacy, including information on remittances and saving schemes;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- States parties are also required to take effective measures to fight all manifestations of racism, xenophobia or related intolerance against migrant workers and members of their families, especially those in an irregular situation, such as hate crimes, incitement to hatred and hate speech, including by politicians and in the media, and to raise public awareness about the criminal nature of such acts as well as to promote respect for migrant workers' human rights.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Although article 16, paragraph 4, does not define the permissible grounds for detention, it states that migrant workers and members of their families shall not be deprived of their liberty, except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedures as are established by law. Furthermore detention must be prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate aim under the Convention, be necessary in the specific circumstances, and proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- In the case of undocumented children in the context of international migration, States shall develop and implement guidelines, taking particular care that time limits, discretionary powers, and/or lack of transparency in administration procedures should not hinder the child’s right to family reunification.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- States parties should include in their reports under article 73 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and article 44 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child information about the measures guided by the present joint general comments that they have implemented and their outcomes.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- States should not interfere with children’s right to housing by means of measures which prevent migrants from renting properties. Measures should be taken to ensure that migrant children, regardless of their status, are able to access homeless shelters.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 32i
- Paragraph text
- [The Committees stress that States parties should:] Ensure that children are identified promptly in border controls and other migration-control procedures within the State’s jurisdiction, and that anyone claiming to be a child is treated as such, promptly referred to child protection authorities and other relevant services, and appointed a guardian, if unaccompanied or separated;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- States parties should also avail themselves of technical cooperation from the international community, including from the United Nations agencies and entities and regional organizations for the implementation of migration policies in respect of children in line with the present joint general comment.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- States parties should adopt measures directed at facilitating the participation of all children in the context of international migration in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies that could directly or indirectly affect them, as individuals or a group, including in the fields of social policies and social services. Initiatives should be taken to prepare girls and transgender children to participate actively, effectively and equally with boys at all levels of social, economic, political and cultural leadership. In countries of origin, the participation of children is paramount in developing policies on and in processes aimed at addressing drivers of the migration of children and/or their parents and developing policies in that regard. In addition, States should adopt measures aimed at empowering children affected by international migration to participate on different levels, through consultations, collaborations and child-led initiatives, and at ensuring that civil society organizations, including children associations and child-led organizations, can participate effectively in policy dialogues and processes on children in the context of international migration, at the local, national, regional and international levels. Any limitations on children’s freedom of association, including through legally establishing associations, should be removed.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Boys
- Children
- Girls
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child highlights the States parties’ obligations to ensure the right of life, survival and development of the child, including the physical, mental, moral, spiritual and social dimensions of his or her development. At any point during the migratory process, a child’s right to life and survival may be at stake owing to, inter alia, violence as a result of organized crime, violence in camps, push-back or interception operations, excessive use of force of border authorities, refusal of vessels to rescue them, or extreme conditions of travel and limited access to basic services. Unaccompanied and separated children may face further vulnerabilities and can be more exposed to risks, such as gender-based, sexual and other forms of violence and trafficking for sexual or labour exploitation. Children travelling with their families often also witness and experience violence. While migration can provide opportunities to improve living conditions and escape from abuses, migration processes can pose risks, including physical harm, psychological trauma, marginalization, discrimination, xenophobia and sexual and economic exploitation, family separation, immigration raids and detention. At the same time, the obstacles children may face in gaining access to education, adequate housing, sufficient safe food and water or health services can negatively affect the physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development of migrant children and children of migrants.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 48
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- The Committees stress that a comprehensive interpretation of the Conventions should lead States parties to develop bilateral, regional and global cooperation in order to ensure the rights of all children in the context of international migration, taking into consideration the guidance developed in the present joint general comment.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 22 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the general principles regarding the human rights ... 2017, para. 49
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- The Committees recognize the importance of coordinating efforts among countries of origin, transit, destination and return, and their roles and responsibilities in addressing the needs of children in the context of international migration and in safeguarding their rights, with the best interests of the child being a primary consideration.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 8
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- The Committee on the Rights of the Child, in relation to unaccompanied and separated children, stated in 2005 that children should not be deprived of their liberty and that detention cannot be justified solely on the basis of the child being unaccompanied or separated, or on their migratory or residence status or lack thereof.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and No. 23 (2017) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on State obligations regarding the human rights of c ... 2017, para. 17a
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- [More specifically, and in particular in the context of best interest assessments and within best interest determination procedures, children should be guaranteed the right to:] Access to the territory, regardless of the documentation they have or lack, and to be referred to authorities in charge of evaluating their needs in terms of protection of their rights, ensuring their procedural safeguards;
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph