E/CN.4/2001/83 page 24 of migrants’ human rights. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the fact that many Governments have adopted a more open approach in the past year and particularly thanks all of those which have extended invitations to her to visit their countries. She nevertheless draws the attention of Governments to the situations of racism, xenophobia and discrimination which are occurring with greater intensity every day and which focus on the migrant population. 104. The Special Rapporteur commends and congratulates the Governments which have ratified the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. 105. The Special Rapporteur notes with regret that many serious incidents that occurred during the period under review resulted in the death of many migrants inside trucks, in the holds of ships, on board rafts or in detention centres when they were trying to escape situations that did not allow them to live dignified lives. She thus welcomes the efforts that led to the signature in Palermo (Italy) of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Additional Protocols to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. 106. The Special Rapporteur takes this opportunity to express her gratitude for the support given to her by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the fulfilment of her mandate. She also feels encouraged by the work being done by the Office of the High Commissioner to establish a data base in support of the thematic mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, of which the office of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants has become part. She is nevertheless concerned that the precarious financial situation of United Nations human rights programmes may undermine stable and uninterrupted support for her mandate. 107. The Special Rapporteur thanks Governments, NGOs and universities for the support they have given her during the period under review and especially for invitations to take part in meetings and symposia, which she considers to be of crucial importance for the fulfilment of her mandate. B. Recommendations 108. On the basis of the resolutions which established and defined the mandate on the human rights of migrants, the Special Rapporteur submits the following recommendations to the three levels referred to in the resolutions: Governments, civil society and migrants themselves. Effective protection of the human rights of migrants 109. It is strongly recommended that States which have not have ratified the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families should do so. All States should bring the provisions of their national legislation on the protection of the human rights of migrants into line with international standards. The provisions of the Convention will guarantee protection against potential and real violations of the human rights of migrants, which many Governments are trying to combat on their own.