OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS
Violence against women migrant workers
Commission on Human Rights resolution 1996/17
The Commission on Human Rights,
Recalling its resolution 1995/20 of 24 February 1995, General Assembly resolutions 47/96 of 16 December 1992,
48/110 of 20 December 1993, 49/165 of 23 December 1994 and 50/168 of 22 December 1995, as well as
Commission on the Status of Women resolutions 38/7 of 18 March 1994, 39/7 of 31 March 1995 and 40/6 of 22
March 1996,
Taking note with concern of the report of the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery of the SubCommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on its twentieth session
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/1995/28 and Add.1), in particular its observations with respect to the treatment of migrant
workers,
Acknowledging the attention given to violence against women migrant workers in the report of the Special
Rapporteur on violence against women, its external and internal root causes and its consequences
(E/CN.4/1996/53),
Stressing that the promotion of the human rights of women constitutes an integral part of the human rights
activities of the United Nations, as reaffirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
(A/CONF.157/23), adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,
Welcoming the conclusions and recommendations made by recent international conferences, including the
World Conference on Human Rights, the International Conference on Population and Development, the World
Summit for Social Development and the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality,
Development and Peace, on the promotion and protection of the rights and fundamental freedoms of women,
including women migrant workers,
Noting the large numbers of women from developing countries and from some countries with economies in
transition who continue to venture forth to more affluent countries in search of a living for themselves and their
families, as a consequence of poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic conditions, while recognizing
that it is the duty of sending countries to protect and promote the interests of their citizens who seek or receive
employment in other countries, to provide them with appropriate training or education and to apprise them of
their rights and obligations in the countries of employment,
Concerned by the continuing reports of grave abuses and acts of violence committed against the persons of
women migrant workers by some employers in some host countries,
Encouraged by some measures adopted by some receiving countries to alleviate the plight of women migrant
workers residing within their areas of jurisdiction,
Reiterating that acts of violence directed against women impair or nullify their enjoyment of their human rights
and fundamental freedoms,
1. Determines to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls;
2. Calls upon States to adopt measures for the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of
Violence against Women, including applying them to women migrant workers, as well as all relevant measures
emanating from recent world conferences;
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