A/59/377
42. The Special Rapporteur also endorses the view expressed in chapter VIII of the
Advisory Opinion, which deals with the rights of undocumented migrant workers
and states that:
“… the migratory status of a person can never be a justification for depriving
him of the enjoyment and exercise of his human rights, including those related
to employment. On assuming an employment relationship, the migrant
acquires rights as a worker, which must be recognized and guaranteed,
irrespective of his regular or irregular status in the State of employment. These
rights are a consequence of the employment relationship” (para. 134).
43. According to the Court, respect for labour rights applies to both the public and
the private spheres (paras. 136-140). The State is “responsible for itself, when it acts
as an employer, and for the acts of third parties who act with its tolerance,
acquiescence or negligence, or with the support of some State policy or directive
that encourages the creation or maintenance of situations of discrimination” (para.
152); therefore, “employment relationships between migrant workers and third party
employers may give rise to the international responsibility of the State in different
ways” (para. 153).
44. The Special Rapporteur considers that impunity for abuses and violations of
the human rights of migrants will only be breached when States are held
internationally responsible and those responsible are punished. She therefore urges
the General Assembly to continue its work on the codification of the draft articles
on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts (resolution 56/83 of
12 December 2001) submitted by the International Law Commission, and urges the
Commission on Human Rights to do likewise with regard to the “Basic Principles
and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Violations
of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law” (E/CN.4/2000/62, annex).
45. The Special Rapporteur endorses some of the guidelines adopted by the
international community in the Programme of Action adopted by the World
Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001
(A/CONF.189/12, chap. I). The Programme of Action requests States “to promote
and protect fully and effectively the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all
migrants, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and their
obligations under international human rights instruments, regardless of the migrants’
immigration status” (para. 26) and urges them “to review and revise, where
necessary, their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of
racial discrimination and compatible with States’ obligations under international
human rights instruments” (para. 30 (b)).
46. One of the legal consequences of the internationalization of human rights has
been that the treatment afforded by a State to persons under its jurisdiction is now
governed by international law, which also recognizes that people have individual
rights. The gap between recognition of the rights of migrants under international
human rights law and the reality on the ground is, therefore, one of the greatest
challenges posed by international migration.
14