Geneva, March 2007 - Recognizing the importance of tabling the human rights of migrant workers in the fourth session of the Human Rights Council and the presentation of the Special Rapporteur’s report, MFA sent its delegation to engage the process. The delegation was composed of MFA representatives coming from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, South Korea and the Secretariat.
For the session, MFA representative from the Joint Committee with Migrants in Korea (JCMK), through the Korea Center for United Nations Human Rights Policy (KOCUN) and Migrant Care through the International Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) each submitted a written statement.
JCMK’s statement highlighted the tragic fire incident in Yeosu detention center, where 10 undocumented migrant workers died and 16 others were seriously injured.
Ms. Kyungsook Lee of JCMK reiterated the need for an improvement of the detention center facilities, human rights education to immigration officials and the regularization of undocumented migrants.
Migrant Care from Indonesia, through the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID), submitted a written statement raising concerns on the death penalty cases of Indonesian migrant workers abroad, the exploitative conditions faced by Indonesian migrant returnees in Terminal III and an immediate ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
Parallel events
MFA through Asian Migrant Center (AMC) and together with Forum Asia, Pax Romana, KOCUN and the Human Rights Working Group in Indonesia, coorganized a forum on the human rights of migrant workers, with specific focus on the case of South Korea and Indonesia. The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrant workers, Mr. Jorge Bustamante, Ambassador Dong-hee Chang, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea and Ambassador Makarim Wibisino, Permanent Mission of Indonesia were invited as guess to the forum.
The MFA delegation also had a meeting with the Steering Committee on the Global Campaign for the Ratification of the Migrant Workers Convention.
A separate meeting with the Steering Committee on Migrant Workers was also attended by the MFA delegation focusing on the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which will be held in July 2007 in Brussels, Belgium.
AMC / MFA Statement
MINBYUN/JCMK Statement (South Korea)
INFID/Migrant Care Statement (Indonesia)
