Day of General Discussion on Undocumented Migrant Workers

Day of General Discussion (DGD) on Undocumented Migrant Workers on 19 September 2011, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The DGD is a public meeting intended to foster a deeper understanding of the contents and implications of the Convention as they relate to specific articles or topics. Representatives of governments, UN bodies and specialized agencies, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions as well as individual experts are welcome to participate.  The DGD is designed to enable participants to exchange views on this topic in a frank and open dialogue. Discussions raised may serve as general comments that the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW) can adopt as formal interpretations of the content of the Convention.

This is a significant development in the international protections for the rights of all migrants, regardless of status. Migrants Rights International (MRI) strongly encourages all civil society groups to attend the DGD in Geneva on 19 September, if possible. It will be very important to highlight all the various areas where undocumented migrant workers’ right are being violated and how to promote better inter-governmental response within the framework of the Convention.

For those who are unable to attend the DGD, MRI encourages you to send in statements in support of the DGD, and to call attention to any particular issue or topic related to undocumented migrant workers that needs to be addressed and heard by the CMW during the DGD.  Please send these statements in Word document format, not more than 2 pages (please do NOT send papers or other reference documents) and feel free to put it on your organization’s letterhead.  Forward these to MRI (migrantsrightsinternational@gmail.com).  MRI will compile all of these and submit to the CMW during the DGD on 19 September.