International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families — UN convention adopted in 1990
The first international treaty establishing comprehensive legal protections for migrant workers and their families, monitored by the UN Committee on Migrant Workers.
Key Facts
- Date Adopted
- 18 December 1990
- Entry into Force
- 1 July 2003
- Ratification Threshold
- 20 States
- Countries Party (as of Nov 2024)
- 60 countries
- Monitoring Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Growing international migration throughout the twentieth century exposed millions of workers and their families to exploitation and rights abuses, while existing human rights instruments failed to address their specific vulnerabilities. This gap prompted UN member states to negotiate a dedicated multilateral instrument to codify and protect the rights of migrant workers across borders.
On 18 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, establishing a comprehensive legal framework covering civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of migrant workers and their families throughout all stages of migration.
After the required threshold of 20 ratifications was reached in March 2003, the convention entered into force on 1 July 2003. The Committee on Migrant Workers was established as one of seven UN human rights treaty bodies to monitor state compliance. By November 2024, 60 countries had ratified the convention, though many major destination countries have not yet acceded.