amnesty international

Living in the Shadows

A primer on the human rights of migrants

Living in the Shadows: A Primer on the Human Rights of Migrants presents an overview of the rights of migrants. The primer outlines how government policies and practices should protect the human rights of migrants at all stages in the migration life-cycle, highlights some of the violations that migrants face, and sets out an agenda for campaigning for migrants’ rights. The central aim is to articulate AI’s message to the public, policy-makers and other relevant actors that migrants’ rights are human rights. At the heart of AI’s proposed agenda for campaigning for migrants’ rights is a call to treat all migrants with full respect for their human rights and human dignity, and to develop a clear and principled strategy to counter the misinformation, prejudice and fear which too often characterize discussion of migration issues. The primer identifies eight key priority areas for campaigners, advocates and other activists to concentrate on when promoting the protection of migrants' rights.

The primer's publication coincides with the upcoming UN High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development which takes place on 14 and 15 September 2006 in New York. The high-level dialogue will discuss the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development, and focus on identifying appropriate ways to maximize its development benefits and minimize its negative impacts. A glossy version of the Primer will be available later in the year, when International Migrants Day, falling on 18th December, provides a welcome opportunity to draw attention to the rights of migrants and to urge states to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

This report summarizes a 66-page document (23,627 words) : Living in the Shadows

A primer on the human rights of migrants (AI Index: POL 33/006/2006) issued by Amnesty International. Anyone wishing further details or to take action on this issue should consult the full document. An extensive range of our materials on this and other subjects is available at http://www.amnesty.org and Amnesty International news releases can be received by email:

http://www.amnesty.org/email/email_updates.html

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