Geneva, Switzerland

19 September 2011

Migrants Rights International is proud to inform you that after strong advocacy by MRI and its international partners, the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW), the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (Migrant Workers Convention), have agreed to hold a Day of General Discussion (DGD) on Undocumented Migrant Workers on 19 September 2011, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Day of General Discussion is a public meeting where it fosters 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.

This is a significant development in the international protection for the rights of all migrants, regardless of status. 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’ rights 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, we encourage 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 migrantsrightsinternational@gmail.com . MRI will compile all of these and submit to the CMW during the DGD on 19 September.

A two-pager of Frequently Asked Questions about the DGD that outlines basic information for civil society participants can be downloaded here.