The Convention defines a migrant worker as “a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national.” The Convention “emphasizes the link between migration and human rights” and “seeks to play a role in preventing and eliminating the exploitation of all migrant workers and members of their families throughout the entire migration process.” While reiterating human rights specified in other major human rights treaties, the Convention also addresses specific protection needs of migrant workers and members of their families.
The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1990. It entered into force in 2003 after 20 states had ratified or acceded to it. The Convention established the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW), a body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the convention by State parties.