The Commission on Human Rights,

Reaffirming once more the permanent validity of the principles and standards embodied in the principal instruments regarding the international protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,

Bearing in mind the principles and standards established within the framework of the International Labour Organization and the importance of the task carried out in connection with migrant workers and their families in other specialized agencies and in various United Nations bodies,

Concerned at the situation of migrant workers and members of their families and at the marked increase in migratory movements that has occurred, especially in certain parts of the world,

Underlining the importance of the creation of conditions to foster greater harmony and tolerance between migrant workers and the rest of the society of the State in which they reside, with the aim of eliminating the growing manifestations of racism and xenophobia taking place in segments of many societies and perpetrated by individuals or groups against migrant workers,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990, by which the Assembly adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, contained in the annex to the resolution,

Considering that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights (A/CONF.157/23) urges all States to guarantee the protection of all migrant workers and their families and invites them to consider the possibility of signing and ratifying the Convention at the earliest possible time,

1. Expresses its deep concern at the growing manifestations of racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and inhuman and degrading treatment against migrant workers in different parts of the world;

2. Urges countries of destination to review and adopt, as appropriate, measures to prevent the excessive use of force and to ensure that their police forces and competent migration authorities comply with the basic standards relating to the decent treatment of migrant workers and their families, inter alia through the organization of training courses on human rights;

3. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (E/CN.4/1997/65 and Corr.1), and welcomes the fact that some Member States have recently acceded to the Convention;

4. Calls upon all Member States to consider the possibility of signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority, and expresses the hope that this international instrument will enter into force at an early date;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all facilities and assistance necessary for the active promotion of the Convention, through the World Public Information Campaign for Human Rights and the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights;

6. Invites organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to continue and intensify their efforts with a view to disseminating information on and promoting understanding of the Convention;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission at its fifty-fourth session a report on the status of the Convention and on the efforts made by the Secretariat to promote the Convention and the protection of the rights of migrant workers;

8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-fourth session the item entitled "Measures to improve the situation and ensure the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers".

37th meeting
3 April 1997

[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XI.]