Three former and current students of the Master’s in International Migration and Refugee Law (IMRL) attended the 39th session of the UN Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW) in Geneva. This unique opportunity was made possible by our recently launched Student Research Programme.
The 39th Session
The session, which took place from 2 to 13 December 2024 at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, focused on
- Considering the country reports of Benin, Egypt, Peru and the Seychelles, with discussions on legal protection, migration trends and ensuring fair labour conditions.
- Adopting Concluding Observations with recommendations for improving the protection of migrant workers and their families in these countries.
- The adoption of General Comment 6, linking the Convention to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, to be published in April 2025.
- Initiating a joint general comment with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to address racial discrimination in the context of migration.
The Committee also held dialogues with state delegations, civil society organisations, national human rights institutions and the International Labour Organisation. The conclusion of the session by Fatima Diallo can be found here.
Student Experience
The students contributed to the Committee’s research, participated in high-level discussions and gained insight into the practice of international migration law. In addition to the formal sessions, they had informal discussions with Committee members, broadening their understanding of current issues. A highlight for the interns was the CMW’s meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
They found the in-person experience in Geneva valuable for their future in migration and refugee law, and also a good combination with the remote work of their student research programme from Amsterdam. Feedback included: “Seeing the treaty body in action and interacting with committee members was inspiring. It provided a broader perspective on global migration policy, highlighting the obstacles in the field and the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation.”
About the Committee on Migrant Workers
The CMW oversees the implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. It works in constructive dialogues with states and civil society to address key challenges in migration governance. Learn more about the committee here.
Our Student Research Programme is an example of how academic initiatives can connect students with real-world challenges. We thank the UN Committee on Migrant Workers for this enriching opportunity, wish the current student researchers a valuable experience in their final months, and look forward to welcoming the new cohort of researchers soon.