A/60/357 the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants I will begin my programme of work by focusing on the context of labour markets as the juridical and social framework in which the main interaction between nationals and aliens, or immigrants, occurs, with a view to clarifying the relationship between international migration and human rights. In explaining the role played by the latter in the juridical and social context of international labour markets where they come into play, the terms immigrant and alien will be used interchangeably. 7. If we look at the list of countries whose legislative bodies have approved the ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families we see that of the more than 30 countries which have ratified this international instrument, there is not one host country from among the countries experiencing major migratory flows in the world. That is indicative of the difference between the countries of origin and the host countries, a difference attributable both to national interests and to values and preferences which become clear when a decision is taken on whether or not to ratify the Convention, which is certainly the most comprehensive international instrument on the human and labour rights of international migrants which has existed to date. We must therefore seek to better understand the factors which influence host countries in their decision not to ratify, and some of the countries of origin in their decision to ratify, the Convention. 8. Of the relevant factors identified in the host countries, one common denominator seems to be a certain resistance to explicitly recognizing that there is a demand for the labour supplied by immigrants, or aliens, in spite of the scientific evidence proving that demand exists and attracts migrant workers. 9. The reluctance to recognize the demand for the labour of migrant workers, which is a common factor among the host countries, acquires heuristic importance when it becomes clear that there is some relationship between that reluctance and the appearance of anti-immigrant ideologies often tinged with xenophobia and racism. 10. The sequence of events originating with the reluctance to recognize the demand for the labour provided by migrants could be outlined as follows: – Existence of a demand for the labour supplied by immigrants; – Lack of public recognition of that situation; – Growth of anti-immigrant ideologies; – Growth in incidents involving violations of the human rights of immigrants; – Increasing impunity for such violations; – Increased criticism or sanctions on the part of the international community in relation to these violations. III. Methods of work 11. Using the above hypothesis as a starting point, in the programme of work under my mandate I intend to analyse information on the following aspects: 3