Protection of migrants
A/RES/70/147
migration in order to enable everyone to make informed decisions and to prevent
anyone from utilizing dangerous means to cross international borders,
1.
Calls upon States to promote and protect effectively the human rights
and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migration status,
especially those of women and children, and to address international migration
through international, regional or bilateral cooperation and dialogue and a
comprehensive and balanced approach, recognizing the roles and responsibilities of
countries of origin, transit and destination in promoting and protecting the human
rights of all migrants and avoiding approaches that might aggravate their
vulnerability;
2.
Expresses its concern about the impact of financial and economic crises
as well as natural disasters and the effects of climate-related phenomena on
international migration and migrants, and in that regard urges Go vernments to
combat unfair and discriminatory treatment of migrants, in particular migrant
workers and their families;
3.
Reaffirms the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights 2 and the obligations of States under the International Covenants on Human
Rights, 3 and in this regard:
(a) Strongly condemns acts, manifestations and expressions of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants and the
stereotypes often applied to them, including on the basis of religion or belief, and
urges States to apply and, where needed, to reinforce existing laws when hate
crimes, xenophobic or intolerant acts, manifestations or expressions against
migrants occur, in order to eradicate impunity for those who commit those acts and,
where appropriate, to provide effective remedy to the victims;
(b) Encourages States to establish or, when appropriate, strengthen
mechanisms which allow migrants to report alleged cases of abuse by relevant
authorities and employers without fear of reprisal, and which allow for such
complaints to be addressed fairly;
(c) Expresses concern about legislation adopted by some States that results
in measures and practices that may restrict the human rights and fundamental
freedoms of migrants, and reaffirms that, when exercising their sovereign right to
enact and implement migratory and border security measures, States have the duty
to comply with their obligations under international law, including international
human rights law, in order to ensure full respect for the human rights of migrants;
(d) Calls upon States to ensure that their laws and policies, including in the
areas of counter-terrorism and combating transnational organized crime, such as
trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, fully respect the human rights of
migrants;
(e) Calls upon States that have not done so to consider signing and ratifying
or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All
Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families 11 as a matter of priority, and
requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to promote and raise
awareness of the Convention;
(f) Takes note of the report of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights
of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on its twenty-first and
5/10