The Economist reports on how immigrants help both the countries they leave and those to which they move. Added to www.audiovideo.economist.com in October 2009

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Although this video is not very relevant with human rights and migration, I think it is quite interesting and gives a different aspect of the issue of migration and its implications at an international level. Apart from its social side migration has also an important economic impact on the countries and on societies, as the main reason for migration nowadays is financial, especially in Europe and North America.

Migrants’ human rights ‘violated’ at reception centers

Posted by clandestinenglish on 7 April 2011

Ombudsman says that authorities have not made use of EU funds
The Ombudsman has asked to meet with government and police officials to discuss the conditions that undocumented migrants are being kept in northeastern Greece after describing their plight as a “humanitarian crisis”.
Representatives from the citizens’ watchdog and Greece’s National Committee for Human Rights recently conducted visits to the reception centers in Evros and Rodopi and has demanded that authorities take immediate action to improve conditions.
“The seriousness of the situation requires an equivalent response,” the Ombudsman said in its report. “There is an issue of fundamental human rights being violated and this is mainly down to the abhorrent detention conditions, the lack of police personnel and the failure to promptly take measures that have been approved and funded by the European Union.”
The Ombudsman and the human rights committee said they would be sending their proposals to the government.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_05/04/2011_386470

http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/migrants-human-rights-violated-at-reception-centers/

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Undocumented migrants have also certain rights as far as the conditions that they are being kept are concerned in order their applications for asylum to be examined. The violation of these rights in Greece has been an important issue lately, as these migrants are being kept in conditions that not only the international recognized rights of migrants, but also the fundamental human rights are violated. It is important to point out that undocumented migrants are not criminals, but people that their cases and rights are recognized by the international law and that they should be treated so.

In a historic joint statement, 12 UN agencies, the International Organisation for Migration and the World Bank - the Global Migration Group, has called for the protection of human rights of irregular migrants worldwide.
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This statement is important as the issue of violation of human rights of illegal migrants becomes more and more significant and the recognition of such violations is crucial in order to promote their protection. 
Illegal immigration to other countries may be caused by several factors as in the case of wars. People migrate to other countries in fear of these wars. Other factors might include persecution whereby people illegally immigrate to the other countries in fear of being persecuted in their own country and a good example is in the case with the religious leaders. Another factor which might lead to illegal immigration is the case with poverty. Most people usually migrate to the other countries in search for higher wages. A good example is in the case with people from the developing countries. In particular, most of these immigrants usually move to the developed countries say the United States in search of well paid jobs, and improved standards of living which could not be achieved in their home country.
However, the fact that these migrants are illegal does not mean that they don't have rights that should be respected and protected. In most cases, such as Greece, illegal migrants are being kept under humiliating conditions and in the majority of the cases their right to ask for an asylum has been put on hold for months or even years, despite the fact that international law protects their rights.

20th Anniversary Ratification Campaign

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, a global campaign has been launched calling on governments to act immediately to end widespread human rights violations, suffered daily by migrants around the world, by ratifying this Convention.

Since its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1990, the Convention has been ratified by 44 states and signed by a further 15 states. The Convention recognises the specific vulnerabilities of migrant workers and promotes humane and lawful working and living conditions. It provides guidance on the elaboration of national migration policies based on respect for human rights and the rule of law. It sets out provisions to combat abuse and exploitation of migrant workers and members of their families throughout the migration process.

We urge all governments to seize the occasion of the 20th anniversary to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and thereby affirm their commitment to protect the human rights of migrant workers. We hope that on 18 December 2010, we can also celebrate the ratification of the Convention by many states.