Joint Initiative by December 18 and Migrants Rights International.
MIGRANT.NEWS, Issue 62, 18 December 2002
1.
International Migrantís Day
Today, we are celebrating the International Migrantís Day - with activities
taking place in such places as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the
Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Israel, Greece, Italy,
Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, the US,
Canada, Argentina, Chili...
On this day, we celebrate the
contributions which migrants are making to all economies and cultures. We
remind politicians about the potential migrants represent, but that the
political will is needed to fully embrace this potential. However, respect for
the human rights of migrants and their families should always be an integral
part of any migration policy.
The international IMD calendar is
available at:
English: http://www.december18.net/IMDagenda2001.htm
French: http://www.december18.net/f-IMDagenda2001.htm
Spanish: http://www.december18.net/e-IMDagenda2001.htm
It also includes a page with press
releases and various statements from ICFTU, ENAR, MRI, NNIRR, IOM, LION and
Catalan groups and others. We
update the page as statements and press releases are coming in. Please also
send us yours!
Other IMD specials:
On the Asian Migration Trail, several
articles provided by IPS Asia-Pacific (see December 18 homepage)
ICFTU will be publishing a special dossier
on female domestic workers, showing how the unions are helping this
particularly vulnerable group of migrant workers. ICFTU will also be providing
its online subscribers with an interview with a Filipino domestic worker who
migrated to Belgium. See http://www.icftu.org
The Stichting Kapatiran
formally launched today its new website: http://www.kapatiran.net
The NNIRR launched a
special IMD page: http://www.nnirr.org/dec18/index.html
______________________________________________________________________
2. UN Commission
on Human Rights 2003
It is time again
to think about the fifty-ninth session of the UN Commission on Human Rights to
be held from 17 March to 25 April 2003 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Since NGOs are
often invited to read their oral statements late at night before an empty room
ñ or like last year, denied time to read their statements ñ we strongly
encourage all ECOSOC accredited NGOs to prepare a written statement. Written
statements submitted by NGOs and government delegations are issued as UN
documents and made available as such to member and observer governments and NGO
participants.
They should be sent as soon as possible, and in
any case before 3 February 2003 to:
Mr. Mika Kanervavuori
Mailing address: Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights, Room PW 1-050, Palais des Nations,
8-14 avenue de la Paix, CH-1211 Geneva 10;
Tel.: +41 22 917 94 31;
Fax: +41 22 917 90 11;
E-mail address: mkanervavuori@ohchr.org
The organizations are encouraged, if
possible, to provide the Secretariat with the text of their statements in the
different working languages of the United Nations ñ English, French and Spanish
ñ on diskettes or by e-mail (see above). The maximum length of written statements
is 2,000 words for NGOs in general consultative status and 1,500 words for NGOs in
special consultative
status as well as for those NGOs on the Roster. When submitting a written statement, NGOs should
clearly indicate the item of the agenda under which the statement is to be
circulated.
The provisional
agenda of the 59th session of the Commission is available on the following web
page:
http://www.unhchr.ch/huridocda/huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.2003.1.En?Opendocument
The annotated agenda of the 59th session
of the Commission (E/CN.4/2003/1/Add.1-2) is expected to be available by
mid-January 2003.
General Report on the 58th Session of the
UNCHR 2002
http://www.hri.ca/uninfo/unchr2002/contents.htm
The reports of the visits by the
Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of migrants to Mexico and the
Philippines are available
at:
Mexico:
English:
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/TestFrame/02ba799ae4d4e896c1256c800050885e?Opendocument
Spanish
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/TestFrame/11c786ab9d55f231c1256c830035667f?Opendocument
French:
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/TestFrame/5b12325a846dd0e6c1256c8300350bb0?Opendocument
Philippines:
English
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/TestFrame/44a782e3f781212dc1256c8400437b2a?Opendocument
Spanish
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/TestFrame/1120d81098944d00c1256c840044f089?Opendocument
French:
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/TestFrame/c4b4fc2478183216c1256c840044712b?Opendocument
__________________________________________________________________________
3. UN Convention on the protection of
the human rights of all migrant workers and their families
On the 3rd December 2002, the
Steering Committee for the Global Campaign for the Ratification of the 1990
International Convention organised a special briefing on the Convention during
the IOM Council meeting. The Statements by the Mexican Ambassador, Mr. Gustavo
Albin and the Steering Committee Members (ICFTU, OHCHR, Special Rapporteur on
the Human Rights of Migrants and IOM) are available on the following web page:
http://www.migrantsrights.org/index.htm#one
On Human Rights' Day, Timor Leste (East
Timor) decided to accede to the 1990 International Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. If the
instrument of ratification is deposited at the UN in New York before 1 January
2003, the Convention will enter into force on 1 April 2003. We were informed that
El Salvador may be the 21th state to ratify later this month or
beginning of January 2003.
Information about the entry into force
procedure, the creation of the Committee (also know as Treaty Body) and what NGOs can do is available at:
English: http://www.december18.net/MN200502.pdf
French: http://www.december18.net/f-MN200502.pdf
Spanish: http://www.december18.net/e-MN200502.pdf
The Convention text is now available on
the December 18 and the Steering Committee websites in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Dutch, Italian and
German.
4. Europe
The European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution approving a
proposal for a Council regulation on extending the provisions of Regulation
(EEC) No 1408/71, under the terms of which a national of a third country who is
legally resident in a Member State and who would like to work in another Member
State will be able to benefit from a transfer of rights acquired under a social
security scheme. This finally closes a gap in law, and represents a further
necessary and important step to ensuring equal treatment for third country nationals
residing in a Member State.
Report by the Committee on Employment and Social
Affairs, 5 November 2002
Rapporteur: Ria Oomen-Ruijten
http://www.december18.net/instrumentsregionEUOomen-Ruijten.pdf (English only)
Excerpt
from ECRAN Weekly Update 3/12/02
EU Annual Report on Human Rights: http://ue.eu.int/pressData/en/misc/73020.pdf
European Commission: integrating migration issues into the EU's
external relations
The
European Commission adopted on 3 December 2002 its Communication on Integrating
Migration Issues in the EU's Relations with Third Countries. This communication
pioneers the approach that concerns related to legal and illegal migration need
to be integrated into the external policy and assistance programs of the EU. It
elaborates how the EU's various external policies and instruments, including
development policy, can make an important contribution in addressing the
underlying causes of migration flows. The paper also contains a report on the
effectiveness of financial resources available for repatriation of immigrants
and rejected asylum seekers, for management of external borders, and for asylum
and migration projects in third countries.
The
Communication will be presented to the next meeting of the General Affairs and
External Relations Council on 9/10 December and to the Home and Justice Affairs
Council on 20 December. The full Commission press release can be seen at:
English
http://www.europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/1793|0|RAPID&lg=EN.
French
EU/IMMIGRATION:
Signing with Hong Kong of first readmission agreement
On
27 November 2002, the European Commission signed an agreement with Hong Kong on
the readmission of illegal immigrants. As is the case for readmission
agreements currently being negotiated, this agreement provides for the
readmission of illegal immigrants by the country from which they have arrived,
be they nationals of that country or be it a transit country.
Press
release by the Government of HK (English only)
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/brandhk/1127322.htm
Draft
Report by the Committee on Citizensí Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home
Affairs
English:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/meetdocs/committees/libe/20021008/477962EN.pdf
French:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/meetdocs/committees/libe/20021008/477962FR.pdf
Spanish:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/meetdocs/committees/libe/20021008/477962ES.pdf
Two
other readmission agreements have already been initiated, with Sri Lanka (May
2002) and Macao (October 2002). Negotiations began with Ukraine. Two years
after the Council adopted the mandate, Morocco, like Russia have just agreed to
start negotiating. Negotiations have still not begun with Pakistan. The Council
is to approve new mandates to launch negotiations with Turkey, Algeria, China
and Albania. The Commission is also considering negotiations with the 77
African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP), so as to implement the
provisions included in the Cotonou Agreement.
5. Publications
A World On the Move: A Report from the 2001 UN
World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related
Intolerance; A Resource Guide on International Migrant Rights.
A World On the Move
presents a comprehensive look at the outcomes, lessons, and successes for
immigrant and refugee rights from the 2001 UN World Conference Against Racism
and Xenophobia. The report includes testimonies of participants in the U.S.
based Migrant Rights Working Group and tips for NGOs on preparing for
international conferences. This up-to-date resource kit also shares analysis of
international migrant and refugee issues, with practical guides on connecting
local issues with international human rights campaigns and systems. A must-have
for any group thinking about immigrant and refugee rights in a global era!
Available in English only.
Cost: $7.00 plus $3.00
shipping for the first report and $1.00 for each additional copy. US currency
only. Visit www.nnirr.org for more
information about the report, or contact echo@nnirr.org.
6. Updates of the http://www.december18.net web site
English
http://www.december18.net/pressreleases52.htm
Articles and papers: http://www.december18.net/papers.htm
-
The Asian
Migration Trail
-
After 9/11,
Immigrant Workers in the crosshairs
-
Guatemala-Mexico-US:
The Story of a Coyote
-
Central-American
migration to Mexico increased 25 percent this year
-
Immigrants
to the US: A snapshot of Americaís foreign-born population
-
UK: Why
foreign nurses hold the nationís health in their hand!
-
The
invisible exodus: North Koreans in the PR China
-
Spain: UN
Experts should focus on Migrants
-
Workersí
trafficking from Romania to Israel
-
Exploitation
of migrants in Europe
-
National
security, or war on workers ñ US
-
Chinese
workers awaiting deportation fear for their lives, Israel
-
ëStrandedí
Filipinos trapped in Saudi limbo
Governmental and multilateral sources:
-
UNHCR:
Statistical Yearbook 2001
-
UK: A Common
Policy of Illegal Migration
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/letters/news28/%27illigal%27%20immigration.pdf
- EU Update on
the development of a common policy on migration
http://www.december18.net/instrumentsregionEUupdateOct2002.pdf
- COE: Creation on a charter of intent on
clandestine migration
http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc02/EDOC9522.htm
NGO Newsletters: http://www.december18.net/newsletters.htm
French
Articles and papers:
- La dÈcision du RATP, premiËre entreprise
publique ý embaucher des Ètrangers, est mal acceptÈe par certains syndicats
-
CGP France: Immigration, marchÈ du travail, intÈgration
http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/BRP/024000590/0000.pdf
Spanish
http://www.december18.net/e-pressreleases52.htm
Articles and papers: http://www.december18.net/e-papers.htm
- De
la migraciÛn a la inmigraciÛn
- Al
este de Aztl·n: la migraciÛn mexicana al este de Estados Unidos
- MIGRACI²N El legado de Manuel Gamio
-
EspaÒa ó la ONU debe examinar polÌtica migratoria
-
La Conferencia HemisfÈrica sobre MigraciÛn Internacional, Derechos Humanos
y Trata de Personas en las AmÈricas define retos de salud sexual para migrantes
-
Reconoce Paige que la educaciÛn a niÒos migrantes en EU no es de buena
calidad
-
Guatemala: Abogan por migrantes. Aumenta corrupciÛn en instituciones como
Aduanas y policÌas migratorias
- MERCOSUR, Chili y Bolivia: Acuerdo para
regularizar inmigraciÛn informal
http://www.info-ong.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3648
NGO Newsletters: http://www.december18.net/e-boletines.htm
Dutch
NGO Newsletters:
http://www.december18.net/d-Nieuwsbrieven.htm
END
Spanish and French version available upon request
at myriam@december18.net
Spanish
version translated by Maria Ruiz, Spain and French version translated by
Catherine Thomas, France.