Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers Concludes its Thirty-third Session after Adopting its Concluding Observations on Reports of Rwanda and Azerbaijan

The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families this afternoon closed its thirty-third hybrid session after adopting its concluding observations on the reports of Rwanda and Azerbaijan on their implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. During its session, the Committee also launched its General Comment Five on migrants’ rights to liberty and freedom from arbitrary detention.

Can Ünver, Committee Chairperson, in closing remarks, said the effective protection of all migrant workers under the provisions of the Convention should be a priority for all States. During the session, the Committee had held constructive dialogues with Rwanda and Azerbaijan and adopted concluding observations on their periodic reports. The Committee had also held a meeting with States and other stakeholders, providing updates about the Committee’s activities and advocating for more ratifications of the Convention.

The Committee’s online launch event for its new General Comment 5, on migrants’ rights to liberty and freedom from arbitrary detention, was publicly broadcast and featured powerful testimonies from former immigration detainees, civil society and other United Nations mandate-holders, among others. In the ensuing panel discussion, participants had highlighted the relevance and timeliness of the General Comment, and explored ways to promote it globally, including through advocacy work by stakeholders. The advance unedited version of the General Comment is available on the webpage of the Committee.

During its session, the Committee had taken a number of important measures to enhance its work and visibility, establishing a working group on working methods to guide its work in coherence and synergy with the best practices of other Committees. Focal points had also been appointed for the 2022-2023 annual work plan, and the Committee’s communications strategy. States parties to be reviewed in April and in September-October 2022 had been identified.

The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on Rwanda and Azerbaijan will be available on the session’s webpage. Meetings coverage releases on the public meetings during which the reports were considered are available on the webpage of the United Nations Office at Geneva, while webcasts of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed here.

The Committee will hold its thirty-fourth session at a date to be announced.

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