Expert Consultation on Recruitment Practices and their impact on the human rights of migrants
Human Rights Council Resolution 26/19, requests, inter alia, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants to examine ways and means to overcome the obstacles existing to the full and effective protection of the human rights of migrants, formulate appropriate recommendations to prevent and remedy violations of the human rights of migrants, wherever they may occur and recommend actions and measures applicable at the national, regional and international levels to eliminate violations of the human rights of migrants. In addition, the Special Rapporteur has been requested to to take into account the bilateral, regional and international initiatives that address issues relating to the effective protection of human rights of migrants and give particular emphasis to recommendations on practical solutions with regard to the implementation of the rights relevant to the mandate, including by identifying best practices and concrete areas and means for international cooperation.
Recruitment practices have been and will also be the focus of several of his country visits such as those to Qatar (November 2013) and Sri Lanka (May 2014). For instance, during the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Qatar, at the initiative of the Special Rapporteur, the Government organized a workshop on recruitment practices, at the Special Rapporteur’s initiative.
The recruitment industry is a key player which facilitates international labour migration. In many job sectors, the recruitment industry has both formal and informal brokers/sub-agents or “middlemen” who link migrant workers with employers. The middlemen promise migrants jobs abroad and guarantee employers with migrant workers.
In light of the above, OHCHR will provide support to the Special Rapporteur in organizing a one day consultation to analyse the impact of these practices on the human rights of migrants on 31 October 2014.