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communications received, or which he considers representative of the problems and challenges
faced by a particular region. Ensuring follow-up of activities will be a central concern in all of
his activities, including regarding visits. He would also like to carry out visits to countries in
regions that, due to time constraints, were visited less frequently by the previous Special
Rapporteur.
II. MANDATE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR
A. Scope of the mandate
17.
Under Commission resolution 1999/44, further developed in subsequent resolutions, the
mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants is to examine ways and
means to overcome obstacles to the full and effective protection of the human rights of migrants,
including obstacles and difficulties for the return of migrants who are undocumented or in an
irregular situation taking into account bilateral and regional initiatives and arrangements that aim
at addressing, inter alia, the return and reinsertion of those migrants. Resolution 1999/44 also
required the Special Rapporteur:
•
To request and receive information from all relevant sources, including migrants
themselves on violations of the human rights of migrants and their families;
•
To formulate appropriate recommendations to prevent and remedy violations of the
human rights of migrants, wherever they may occur;
•
To promote the effective application of relevant international standards on the issue;
•
To recommend actions and measures applicable at the national, regional and
international levels to eliminate violations of the human rights of migrants;
•
To take into account a gender perspective when requesting and analysing
information, and to give special attention to the occurrence of multiple discrimination
and violence against women.
18.
In its resolution 2000/85, entitled “Rights of the child”, the Commission requested States
to cooperate fully with and assist the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, in
order to address the particular vulnerable conditions of migrant children.
19.
The Commission has established a broad mandate of protection and has referred, among
other instruments, to the Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals
of the Country in which They Live. As has been frequently observed, the term “migrant” is a
general expression that can cover a number of different situations, including emigrants and
immigrants, temporary and permanent migrants, documented and undocumented migrants. The
Special Rapporteur believes that it is important to work within the broad framework adopted by
the Commission in its resolutions concerning the mandate and to avoid a restrictive interpretation
of his mandate.