COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANT WORKERS CONCLUDES NINETEENTH SESSION

The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families today concluded its nineteenth session after adopting its concluding observations and recommendations on the reports of Burkina Faso and Morocco.

Closing the session, Azad Taghizade, Chairperson of the Committee, summarized the work accomplished by the Committee during the week, which included a review of the initial reports of Burkina Faso and Morocco and the adoption of the lists of issues for Uruguay and Kyrgyzstan, whose reports would be considered in future sessions.

The Chairperson thanked departing Committee Members for the significant contribution they had made to the Committee and its work. Mr. Taghizade said that it had been a fruitful session, in which several interesting discussions had taken place, focusing on development and various matters concerning the ratification of the Convention and making it better known around the world. Meetings held with Mr. Salama and Mr. Crépeau had been very useful. Non-governmental organization representatives had also made an important contribution to the work of the Committee, he said.

The Committee then adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on Burkina Faso and Morocco, as well as its annual report to be presented to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

During the session the Committee had held meetings to discuss its methods of work and treaty-body strengthening processes, and also held a meeting with United Nations bodies and specialized agencies. At the beginning of the week the session was opened by United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Flavia Pansieri, who spoke about violations of the rights of irregular migrant workers and stressed that the post-2015 development agenda had to recognize migrants not just as a force for development but also as right-holders.

The concluding observations and recommendations on the reports of Burkina Faso and Morocco will be available on the Committee’s webpage from early next week.

The twentieth session of the Committee will be held from 31 March to 11 April 2014 at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, when the Committee will consider the report of El Salvador, Mali, Philippines and Uruguay.


For use of the information media; not an official record

CMW13/012E