May 3, 2012

The human rights of migrant workers in the Arabian Gulf region was the subject of a consultation convened at Santhigiri Ashram in Alwaye, India by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia.

Thirty representatives of churches, specialized ministries and civil society organizations gathered from 28 April to 3 May for the International Consultation on Ecumenical Advocacy for the Protection of the Human Rights of Migrant Workers in the Arabian Gulf Region.

In a communiqué issued at the meeting's close, the participants called for implementation of international agreements aimed at protecting migrants from exploitation, and for final ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (ICRMW).

Dr Mathews George Chunakara, director of the WCC-administered Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), noted that "countries may be held liable under international law for failure to fulfil their obligations under the ICRMW."

The communiqué also calls on churches and other religious bodies in labour-sending and labour-receiving nations to find practical and effective ways of supporting migrant workers and their families.

Read full text of the communiqué: http://lists.wcc-coe.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=jazjt,ei93,usx,eftm,imth,iczd,e4ua.

WCC consultation discusses issues of migrant workers in Gulf (WCC feature article of 30 April 2012): http://lists.wcc-coe.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=jazjt,ei93,usx,86mr,8yuk,iczd,e4ua.

WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs: http://lists.wcc-coe.org/ct.html?rtr=on&s=jazjt,ei93,usx,hupo,bqw6,iczd,e4ua.

World Council of Churches