A Statement of Need

Migration, globalization and human rights have emerged as central social, economic and political challenges reshaping the world at the turn of the century. The most immediate challenge facing societies and governments worldwide is the frightening rise in violence against migrants and restrictive government measures directly undermine the fundamental basic human rights of millions of families.

Currently, one out of every 35 persons worldwide is an international migrant. According to UN estimates, some 175 million people are now living permanently or temporarily outside their country of origin. This vast number includes migrant workers and their families, refugees, and permanent immigrants.

Unfortunately, however, because of their status as foreigners or non-nationals, these migrants become the universal "scapegoats," often targeted for violence and excluded from legal protections in many places. This is especially so in the widening designation of persons, i.e. migrants, as "illegal," thus explicitly denying them recognition under the rule of law.

Nonetheless, as in the past, little international attention, advocacy, and public education have been devoted to upholding the human rights and dignity of migrants other than refugees. There was no international civil society organization specifically mandated to monitor the protection of human rights for this vulnerable group. This enormous need remained unmet in spite of elaboration of international human rights standards for migrants and declarations in international conferences calling for cooperation towards the protection of migrants rights.

Thus, it was in 1994 that prominent international representatives of church, human rights, migrant and trade unions, inter-governmental agencies, national and grassroots civil society organizations came together and established the "International Migrants Watch Committee," which later on evolved into what is known today as the Migrants Rights International.

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