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principle of non-discrimination; domestic and farm workers; and the fight against
impunity and the strengthening of the judiciary, with a view to appraising the
situation relating to the human rights of migrants in Guatemala. He also highlighted
efforts made by the Guatemalan authorities to adopt a more comprehensive
approach to the management of migration and to facilitate the return to their
families of non-accompanied migrant children deported from Mexico. He made
some recommendations for the full realization of the human rights of migrants in
Guatemala. He also commended the work accomplished by civil society and made
recommendations aimed at ensuring the protection of migrants and combating
impunity for violations of their human rights.
Romania
17. The Special Rapporteur undertook an official visit to Romania from 15 to
20 June 2009. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of a
number of ministries and agencies responsible for migration governance, law
enforcement, countering transnational organized crime and trafficking in persons
and the protection of migrants and their families at the national and county level,
including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Administration and the
Interior; the Ministry of Labour, Family and Equal Opportunity; the Parliament; the
National People’s Advocate; and the National Council for Combating
Discrimination. He also met with border control authorities and senior officials of
the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons, but regretted not having been
able to interview persons benefiting from victims protection programmes. He visited
Bucharest, Galati, Constanta, Tulcea, Otopeni and Pitesti. He also visited centres
where foreigners in an irregular situation are accommodated and was provided
access to interview some of them on a random basis.
18. At the conclusion of his visit, the Special Rapporteur highlighted labour
migration as one of the key issues for domestic and foreign policy in Romania,
given the fact that both immigration and outmigration have been increasing in recent
years. He was further informed about two contrasting trends: the decrease in the
trafficking in persons on the one hand, and the increase in the smuggling of migrant
workers on the other. He noted the Government’s interest in addressing some of the
problems related to the human rights of migrants, but observed with concern that
there were certain gaps and ambiguities in the legislative framework regulating the
protection of migrant workers and expressed regret that Romania had not ratified the
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families, which had been adopted by the General Assembly in
1990. The Special Rapporteur will submit a report on his country mission to
Romania to the Human Rights Council at a session in 2010.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
19. The Special Rapporteur undertook an official visit to the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 22 to 26 June 2009. During his visit, the
Special Rapporteur met with representatives of a number of governmental
authorities, including officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the
Home Office. He also met with the Children’s Commissioner for England and his
deputy, as well as with a number of senior officials of the Department of Health and
the Department for Children, Schools and Families. During his visit, the Special
Rapporteur also met with several officials of the United Kingdom Border Agency.
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