IIMSAM Middle East Office Observed International Migrants Day
IIMSAM Middle East Director & Goodwill Ambassador Dr. Naseer Homoud's message on International Migrants Day. Dr. Naseer Homoud appealed to the world community to respect rights and dignity of migrants workers.
Doha, Qatar, December 19, 2010 --(PR.com)-- On the occasion of International Migrants Day which is marked every year on December 18, Dr. Naseer Homoud Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Middle East office for the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), the Permanent Observer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council while addressing the media said “Indeed the adaptation by the United Nations of the International Migrants' Day is the beginning of a new era, offering a sign of relief for everyone around the world who is concerned about the safe guarding of migrants.”
The Goodwill Ambassador reminded that migrant workers comprise one of the most vulnerable groups exposed to racial-, gender-, and class-based discrimination and violence. With the global economic crisis came the destabilization of the economy, social cohesion and increased human rights violations. Irregular and undocumented migrant workers receive the greatest negative impact. Aside from low and unpaid salaries, inhuman working and living conditions, lack of protective policies in receiving countries especially in terms of access to redress or legal assistance, arbitrary detention and torture, the lack of basic necessities such as health care, and not being able to exercise freedom of association and freedom of speech, they are now in constant threat of unemployment, underemployment and deployment back to their home countries. Many have refused to go back, preferring to take odd jobs, cut downs on wage and working hours and risk debt bondage and getting caught. “The threat of continued global recession brings forth higher rates of unemployment, leaving thousands of migrant workers without a job and without financial security,” said Dr. Homoud.
Dr. Homoud while highlighting the importance of the celebrations of migrant day said “It provides us with an opportunity to identify the contributions made by thousands of migrants to the progress and prosperity of number of nations around the world and in addition to curb all kinds of violence and abuse faced by the migrants and their family members and advocate respect for their primary human rights.” He urged governments around the world to refine the UN Convention on Migrant Workers and to ensure responsibilities for protecting the fundamental rights of migrants. “The world has long since recognized the contribution of migrants for themselves, their immediate families, for their expanded and extended households, for their communities of origin and for their communities in their countries of destination. Their contributions to societies, in terms of their remittances, have earned for them the title of heroes and heroines,” added Dr. Homoud. He regretted on situation where despite their contributions and sacrifices, their protection especially remains largely ignored. “Migrants are viewed merely as workers or laborers - their rights as full human beings not factored in by most of the host countries where they go or even by their own sending countries, where they come from,” said Dr. Homoud.
Speaking on the occasion to mark this day Dr. Homoud said that most people migrate in the look out of better prospects, hoping to add to their own potential with infrastructures and resources in the destination nation just to benefit themselves and their family members, who often follow or accompany them. Local societies or regional organizations as a whole are also the beneficiaries both in native places and at destinations nations. The multicultural background of these individuals and the policies that regulate their movement make human mobility one of the most perplexed issues that the world is facing today. “Effective planning and actions are needed to regulate these issues,” said Dr. Homoud. He further went on to say “We call for an immigration policy built on the principles of dignity, justice, and equality that uphold the civil and human rights of all people, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, immigration or citizenship status. We call on the global community, including the stakeholders, to ratify the UN International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, which establishes a comprehensive framework to uphold the rights of migrants.”
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The Goodwill Ambassador reminded that migrant workers comprise one of the most vulnerable groups exposed to racial-, gender-, and class-based discrimination and violence. With the global economic crisis came the destabilization of the economy, social cohesion and increased human rights violations. Irregular and undocumented migrant workers receive the greatest negative impact. Aside from low and unpaid salaries, inhuman working and living conditions, lack of protective policies in receiving countries especially in terms of access to redress or legal assistance, arbitrary detention and torture, the lack of basic necessities such as health care, and not being able to exercise freedom of association and freedom of speech, they are now in constant threat of unemployment, underemployment and deployment back to their home countries. Many have refused to go back, preferring to take odd jobs, cut downs on wage and working hours and risk debt bondage and getting caught. “The threat of continued global recession brings forth higher rates of unemployment, leaving thousands of migrant workers without a job and without financial security,” said Dr. Homoud.
Dr. Homoud while highlighting the importance of the celebrations of migrant day said “It provides us with an opportunity to identify the contributions made by thousands of migrants to the progress and prosperity of number of nations around the world and in addition to curb all kinds of violence and abuse faced by the migrants and their family members and advocate respect for their primary human rights.” He urged governments around the world to refine the UN Convention on Migrant Workers and to ensure responsibilities for protecting the fundamental rights of migrants. “The world has long since recognized the contribution of migrants for themselves, their immediate families, for their expanded and extended households, for their communities of origin and for their communities in their countries of destination. Their contributions to societies, in terms of their remittances, have earned for them the title of heroes and heroines,” added Dr. Homoud. He regretted on situation where despite their contributions and sacrifices, their protection especially remains largely ignored. “Migrants are viewed merely as workers or laborers - their rights as full human beings not factored in by most of the host countries where they go or even by their own sending countries, where they come from,” said Dr. Homoud.
Speaking on the occasion to mark this day Dr. Homoud said that most people migrate in the look out of better prospects, hoping to add to their own potential with infrastructures and resources in the destination nation just to benefit themselves and their family members, who often follow or accompany them. Local societies or regional organizations as a whole are also the beneficiaries both in native places and at destinations nations. The multicultural background of these individuals and the policies that regulate their movement make human mobility one of the most perplexed issues that the world is facing today. “Effective planning and actions are needed to regulate these issues,” said Dr. Homoud. He further went on to say “We call for an immigration policy built on the principles of dignity, justice, and equality that uphold the civil and human rights of all people, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, immigration or citizenship status. We call on the global community, including the stakeholders, to ratify the UN International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, which establishes a comprehensive framework to uphold the rights of migrants.”
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Contact
IIMSAM Middle East Regional Office
Farrukh Khan
974 465 3332
www.iimsam.org
Farrukh Khan
974 465 3332
www.iimsam.org
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