PH Cited by International Body for Protecting Migrant Workers’ Rights

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia (fourth from left), Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, with members of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. (Geneva PM photo)

GENEVA 18 September 2018 — The Philippines was cited by the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW) for its record in protecting and promoting the rights of migrant workers during a meeting held at the UN in Geneva on 06 September 2018.

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Permanent Representative to the United Nation and Other International Organizations in Geneva represents the Philippines in the meeting.

Stressing the leadership role that the Philippines had played in helping shape global norms on migration governance, Ambassador Garcia highlighted the importance of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration as the first international instrument that would provide a framework for addressing migration-related issues.

“The Global Compact is a product of intensive consultations. With the Global Compact, we put migration front and center in the UN agenda and in international dialogue. And in such context, we have placed human rights at the front and center as well,” said Ambassador Garcia.

The Philippines took active part in negotiating the Global Compact, advocating issues such as the regularization of undocumented workers, migrants’ access to social services, decent work, ethical recruitment, and labor mobility. It is expected to be adopted in Morocco in December 2018.

Ambassador Garcia also recalled the successful efforts of the Philippines in including human rights principles in the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which the Philippines chaired in 2008, and drew attention to regional initiatives like the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, adopted during the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017.

Recognizing the leadership of the Philippines in the work of the CMW itself, Chairperson Ahmadou Tall paid homage to Philippine Ambassador and former Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Jose Brillantes, who himself served as Chairperson of the CMW.

“He was an active, competent and dynamic member of the CMW. He always worked hard to ensure the evolution and strengthening of migrant rights. We continue to very much appreciate the work he was able to accomplish,” Tall said.

The CMW is a body composed of 17 independent experts tasked to monitor the compliance of countries with the related International Convention that recognizes the human rights of migrant workers and their families, calls for non-discrimination, and advocates lawful and humane conditions for international migration. END 

For more information, visit www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGenevaUN/

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia highlights the achievements of the Philippines in helping shape global migration governance. (Geneva PM photo)

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia (left) with the Mr. Ahmadou Tall, Chairperson of the Committee on Migrant Workers. (Geneva PM photo)