Human Rights Strengthen Migration Policy Framework

This article describes the concept of human rights being addressed at an international level and the fact that this is a relatively recent event based on the establishment of the United Nation's 1945 UN Charter and 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. According to Zard, human rights can be and are a powerful tool for mobilisation and empowerment in light of the "often marginalized" position of migrants in host societies.

She describes that human rights can be a "powerful medium through which migrants can take control of their destinies..." For migrants this is an important concept because of the difficulties they encounter in their destination countries when they seek to access health care, education for their children, and other social and economic rights.

Zard describes a number of key aspects regarding human rights for migrants. One is that human rights offers participation and access to information. The idea behind asserting human rights is that migrants can be helped in reengaging in important issues to them rather than getting delayed by the question of their legal status. Zard points out that human rights are "indivisible" meaning that political and civil rights cannot be separated from economic, social, and cultural rights.

According to Zard, human rights can affect policymaking by deepening an analysis of the causes of migration in the following ways "its links
with inequitable patterns of global trade; the role of economic policies that increase poverty and undermine economic and social rights; the effects of corrupt and abusive government; war; and environmental and economic decline."

Zard concludes by stating that human rights can not answer all of the questions that arise with respect to migration. However "they are a framework, agreed to by states themselves, that can help promote a principled, constructive, and ultimately more effective approach to migration policy."

This article is featured in "Migration Information Source," and is part of a Special Source Issue: Migration and Human Rights.