Practices by Stakeholder 5

Type of Practices by Stakeholder: 
International Organizations
Description: 

Advocacy

Advocacy and awareness-raising with States, employers, and recruiters as well as other stakeholders can help them improve migrants’ rights protection. Important areas of action include:

  • Human and labor rights implementation;
  • Access to social services, in particular health care, education, and legal counsel;
  • Portability of pensions and other social benefits;
  • Ethical and fair recruitment and employers’ duty of care;
  • Access to justice and compensation mechanisms;
  • Anti-discrimination;
  • Insurance and saving schemes for migrants.

Promotion of international standards on migrant protection

International organizations can play a valuable role in clarifying international laws and standards and in doing so, inform and guide the elaboration of national and regional laws and policies related to migrants’ protection as well as their implementation. These efforts can cover a wide range of issues, including:

  • Human rights of migrants;
  • Labor rights for migrant workers;
  • Ethical and fair recruitment processes;
  • State obligations as they relate to migrants’ immigration status.

The clarification and promotion of international standards can be done through a variety of means, including:

  • Sample legal agreements that States can adapt to specific contexts;
  • Model agreements for trade unions;
  • International systems for certification and vetting of placement agencies, recruiters, and employers;
  • Multi-stakeholder initiatives to promote dialogue and encourage the adoption of common standards.

Research and projects for migrants’ empowerment

International organizations can promote migrant empowerment through advocacy, programs that directly target migrants, and through support to other stakeholders. Actions that international organizations may consider implementing include:

  • Research and analysis on State compliance with international obligations relating to migrants;
  • Research and analysis on migrants’ inclusion within State laws, policies, strategies, plans, and programs relating to prevention, preparedness, and response to conflicts or natural disasters;
  • Compilation of best practices on diverse and pertinent areas of action;
  • Programs providing resources to help migrants prepare for a crisis, including communication tools (e.g., phones, prone credit) and emergency kits.