Topic: Migrant workers
Country: The Dominican Republic
Delegate: Jonathan Bradford Lowell, Boothbay Region High School
Until the mid 1980’s hatian migrant workers were contracted as Braceros (Cane Cutters) for the sugar cane harvest which at the time the dominican operated on 12 sugar can feilds. Hatians were contracted in their own country through an agreement between both goverments the hatian government got all the money that was supposed to be paied to the workers though in the year 1986 the hatian government collected a 2 milion dollar check from the dominican government for the labor.
For decades Haitians have been leaving Haiti for better lives and a well paying job in the Dominican Republic, North America, and Europe. Many men and some women have been coming to the republic for the seasonal sugar cane industry private nationalized sugar plantations depend on the large swarm of Haitian workers. These workers are paid horribly and the work conditions are really crappie which most dominicans are not prepared to work under. The number of Haitians in the dominican republic is estimated in around the 500,000 to 1,000,000 person range accurate official records are not available. Most arrived several years ago when the sugar business needed thousands a year large numbers of Haitian workers still work in the agricultural sector but many have now moved on to construction, tourist industries, hotels, restaurants and manufacturing plants on the free trade zone border.
The migrant workers weather they are irregular, regular, or just dominicans of Haitian decent have been victims of numerous human rights violations for many years. Dominicans of Haitian decent have constantly been denied legal status under dominican law as a result the Inter-American Commission has labeled the legal status of dominican people of Haitian decent and Haitian workers in the dominican republic as one of “permanent illegality”. Birth certificates do not only prove nationality in the dominican republic children need them to get a range of services children without them will be denied access to education and are prevented from entering the job market when they get older.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Panama
Jake Garrett
1/15/09
Position Paper
Currently in the country of Panama the new migration law now only grant visitors only 30 days upon entry into Panama with the possibility of one 60-day extension. Two days prior days to the expiration of your 30 days you will need to go to the immigration office with your application requesting a 60 day extension, two photo copies of your passport with entry stamp, two passport size photos, proof of financial independence, and a copy of your cruising permit. You will also need a Panamanian resident to sponsor you, and you will need a letter from the Panamanian resident, a copy of their ID and a copy of their utility bill showing their address. What the sponsor is doing is agreeing to take full legal and financial responsibility for you. With out this sponsor one will have to leave Panama every 30 days. In either case, prior to your original 30 days or your 60-day extension expiring you must leave the country of Panama and return to your country of residence, before you will be allowed to return to Panama.
Broadly, the new migratory structure in Panama will be executed by the National Service of Migration. Migrant workers face the gravest risks to their human rights and fundamental freedoms when they are recruited, transported and employed in defiance of the law. Mass poverty, unemployment and unemployment offer a fertile field of recruitment to employers and private agents. Illegal immigration is a national target of exploration. Economic recession common practice to restrict legal migration by foreign workers. Stiffer penalties for middlemen who recruit, employees accept illegal migrant labor have been proposed and introduced.
1/15/09
Position Paper
Currently in the country of Panama the new migration law now only grant visitors only 30 days upon entry into Panama with the possibility of one 60-day extension. Two days prior days to the expiration of your 30 days you will need to go to the immigration office with your application requesting a 60 day extension, two photo copies of your passport with entry stamp, two passport size photos, proof of financial independence, and a copy of your cruising permit. You will also need a Panamanian resident to sponsor you, and you will need a letter from the Panamanian resident, a copy of their ID and a copy of their utility bill showing their address. What the sponsor is doing is agreeing to take full legal and financial responsibility for you. With out this sponsor one will have to leave Panama every 30 days. In either case, prior to your original 30 days or your 60-day extension expiring you must leave the country of Panama and return to your country of residence, before you will be allowed to return to Panama.
Broadly, the new migratory structure in Panama will be executed by the National Service of Migration. Migrant workers face the gravest risks to their human rights and fundamental freedoms when they are recruited, transported and employed in defiance of the law. Mass poverty, unemployment and unemployment offer a fertile field of recruitment to employers and private agents. Illegal immigration is a national target of exploration. Economic recession common practice to restrict legal migration by foreign workers. Stiffer penalties for middlemen who recruit, employees accept illegal migrant labor have been proposed and introduced.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Topic: Migrant workers
Country: Federal Republic of Brazil
Delegate: Zachary Tyler Ronan
Currently in the Federal Republic of Brazil there is a new energy source that could change the way we think about fuels forever. The revolutionary fuel is ethanol, Ethanol derived from sugar cane and is currently Brazil’s main crop profit and pollutes 13 % less than gasoline. If you can imagine a fuel that humans can grow every year instead of drill, you would think it would benefit everyone involved, but the scary truth is that over 1 million workers and 200,000 temporary migrant workers in Brazil suffer everyday to extract the cane sugar from the fields.
In Sao Paulo,Brazil where temperatures reach scorching, workers have since as long back as 1525 have worked for an average 12 hour day in prison like complexes where they and their families sleep on wooden bunk beds, for a meager pay of $150 a month. Between 2004-2006 seventeen workers died of heat exhaustion and many more where injured. These workers including child laborers are ultimately taken advantage of for many of them don't speak the language and have no natural rights. Brazilian business tycoons who make billions purposely under pay the people who work so tirelessly to make them a profit. Last year alone the ethanol market was worth $8 billion. The main producers are the wealthier south east who produce 85% of the sugar harvest while the poorer north east with a much smaller 15%. Last year, the United States imported 433.7 million gallons of ethanol.
Another problem with sugar harvesting is the pollution it brings to Brazil and its citizens. The deforestation of rain forest and burning of cane fields is under severe legislation because it causes air pollution, It sometimes gets so bad that airports cannot operate due to the amount of smoke in the sky. The physical exploitation of the workers can and will be changed in the future by machines. The machines that cut the canes can produce the same amount as 80 men would in a day and leave behind a grass layer which redistributes the nutrients needed for the next season. But the problem is that they devour oil, and the jobs of the workers which isn't fair. The solution to the pollution caused by sugar combiners may also very well be bio diesel in the foreseeable future.
Although the horrors of the sugar fields are a problem there are also the benefits such as cleaner energy source and the 300,000 jobs it brings to Brazil. The U.N. and da Silva, the president of Brazil are currently trying to find a resolution but till then the problem still stands.
Country: Federal Republic of Brazil
Delegate: Zachary Tyler Ronan
Currently in the Federal Republic of Brazil there is a new energy source that could change the way we think about fuels forever. The revolutionary fuel is ethanol, Ethanol derived from sugar cane and is currently Brazil’s main crop profit and pollutes 13 % less than gasoline. If you can imagine a fuel that humans can grow every year instead of drill, you would think it would benefit everyone involved, but the scary truth is that over 1 million workers and 200,000 temporary migrant workers in Brazil suffer everyday to extract the cane sugar from the fields.
In Sao Paulo,Brazil where temperatures reach scorching, workers have since as long back as 1525 have worked for an average 12 hour day in prison like complexes where they and their families sleep on wooden bunk beds, for a meager pay of $150 a month. Between 2004-2006 seventeen workers died of heat exhaustion and many more where injured. These workers including child laborers are ultimately taken advantage of for many of them don't speak the language and have no natural rights. Brazilian business tycoons who make billions purposely under pay the people who work so tirelessly to make them a profit. Last year alone the ethanol market was worth $8 billion. The main producers are the wealthier south east who produce 85% of the sugar harvest while the poorer north east with a much smaller 15%. Last year, the United States imported 433.7 million gallons of ethanol.
Another problem with sugar harvesting is the pollution it brings to Brazil and its citizens. The deforestation of rain forest and burning of cane fields is under severe legislation because it causes air pollution, It sometimes gets so bad that airports cannot operate due to the amount of smoke in the sky. The physical exploitation of the workers can and will be changed in the future by machines. The machines that cut the canes can produce the same amount as 80 men would in a day and leave behind a grass layer which redistributes the nutrients needed for the next season. But the problem is that they devour oil, and the jobs of the workers which isn't fair. The solution to the pollution caused by sugar combiners may also very well be bio diesel in the foreseeable future.
Although the horrors of the sugar fields are a problem there are also the benefits such as cleaner energy source and the 300,000 jobs it brings to Brazil. The U.N. and da Silva, the president of Brazil are currently trying to find a resolution but till then the problem still stands.
Position Paper
Committee: Commission on Human Rights
Topic: Migrant workers
Country: Costa Rica
Delegate: Joshua Tirado, Boothbay Region High School
Costa Rica, a country that has been through wars and rebellions through the 1980’s, however still remains neutral, and still the only nation without an army. Although Costa Rica is a country where many go for paradise and a relax vacation, It is still a country where people choose to migrate to, and looking for work and new hopes.
Costa Rica has many beautiful scenic tours paradise views. Costa Rica does not have a big percentage, or hardly any of people in search for work , as it does with huge numbers of imports for migrant workers. “Nicaragua has a lot of problems, and for us Costa Rica is like a paradise.” Mike Melendez, a migrant worker from Nicaragua says. Costa Rica can not future development in trade and foreign investment with so many migrant workers coming in.
Challenges facing the Costa Rica government is protecting migrant workers against labor exploitation, and the social insertion of migrant populations, and improvements of access to education, and health services and rights of Costa Rica that protect migrant workers. With the lack of border patrol, migrant workers from neighboring countries are attracted to the stable economy and standard of living in Costa Rica. Actions taken by the government is to increase taxes in more money for a better border patrol security. The money would go towards Costa Rica’s waters and the border bordering its neighboring countries like Nicaragua and Panama. Panama has a stable economy like Costa RIca so people don’t usually migrate to Costa Rica from Panama.
UN committee on human rights say that migration is is unlawful and the subject to matter will be arrested, and also a trial. Deportation or jail time will be issued. Laws from Costa Rica president Oscar Arias states that if immigrants are found, a quick deportation is usually the case if someone is identified as an illegal immigrant. New laws allow Costa Rica’s police to enter a house where immigrants are suspected, and by force arrest the people. No warrants of any kind are needed, and suspects will be held until their status checks out. Many people complain how this interferes with their human rights, hence the law remains upheld till today.
Committee: Commission on Human Rights
Topic: Migrant workers
Country: Costa Rica
Delegate: Joshua Tirado, Boothbay Region High School
Costa Rica, a country that has been through wars and rebellions through the 1980’s, however still remains neutral, and still the only nation without an army. Although Costa Rica is a country where many go for paradise and a relax vacation, It is still a country where people choose to migrate to, and looking for work and new hopes.
Costa Rica has many beautiful scenic tours paradise views. Costa Rica does not have a big percentage, or hardly any of people in search for work , as it does with huge numbers of imports for migrant workers. “Nicaragua has a lot of problems, and for us Costa Rica is like a paradise.” Mike Melendez, a migrant worker from Nicaragua says. Costa Rica can not future development in trade and foreign investment with so many migrant workers coming in.
Challenges facing the Costa Rica government is protecting migrant workers against labor exploitation, and the social insertion of migrant populations, and improvements of access to education, and health services and rights of Costa Rica that protect migrant workers. With the lack of border patrol, migrant workers from neighboring countries are attracted to the stable economy and standard of living in Costa Rica. Actions taken by the government is to increase taxes in more money for a better border patrol security. The money would go towards Costa Rica’s waters and the border bordering its neighboring countries like Nicaragua and Panama. Panama has a stable economy like Costa RIca so people don’t usually migrate to Costa Rica from Panama.
UN committee on human rights say that migration is is unlawful and the subject to matter will be arrested, and also a trial. Deportation or jail time will be issued. Laws from Costa Rica president Oscar Arias states that if immigrants are found, a quick deportation is usually the case if someone is identified as an illegal immigrant. New laws allow Costa Rica’s police to enter a house where immigrants are suspected, and by force arrest the people. No warrants of any kind are needed, and suspects will be held until their status checks out. Many people complain how this interferes with their human rights, hence the law remains upheld till today.
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: Migrant Workers
Committee: OAS
Topic: Migrant Workers
Country: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Delegate: Brittany P. Hill
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, during the past few decades, has experienced a turbulent economy and political instability. In Venezuela, the main source of income is petroleum. Recently, the wars in the Middle East have affected the sales of petroleum, therefore causing more unpredictability in regards to the economy in Venezuela. Because of these problems, the Venezuelan people, as well as the people of the countries surrounding Venezuela have, during this time, resorted to immigrating to other countries, specifically in the European Union, in order to find means of living.
The mistreatment of migrant workers is an issue that is, although unpleasant, very much present. In some countries migrant workers may work under harsh conditions, such as unclean workspaces, unfair pay, and unreasonable work schedules. Because some of these people are not living and working in the host country legally, mistreatment can go unreported out of fear of deportation.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela believes that migrant workers should have the right to remain in the countries that they choose, regardless of whether or not they are legal migrant workers. Venezuela has expressed support for legal and illegal migrant workers through attendance at the International Convention of the Protection of` All Migrant Workers and their families and also by signing and ratifying the resolution associated with that convention on 9 June 1983. On a less formal note, the President of The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has recently called the European Unions updated immigration rules “barbaric,” as the European Union has declared that they will jail and deport immigrants found without passports, and much of MERCOSUR has allowed member citizens to travel over country borders without passports.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelan encourages all states, host and source countries, with the interest of protecting both legal and illegal migrant workers to establish universal protection for these people and their families. Also, it is suggested that a passport free system is established for migrant workers.
Topic: Migrant Workers
Country: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Delegate: Brittany P. Hill
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, during the past few decades, has experienced a turbulent economy and political instability. In Venezuela, the main source of income is petroleum. Recently, the wars in the Middle East have affected the sales of petroleum, therefore causing more unpredictability in regards to the economy in Venezuela. Because of these problems, the Venezuelan people, as well as the people of the countries surrounding Venezuela have, during this time, resorted to immigrating to other countries, specifically in the European Union, in order to find means of living.
The mistreatment of migrant workers is an issue that is, although unpleasant, very much present. In some countries migrant workers may work under harsh conditions, such as unclean workspaces, unfair pay, and unreasonable work schedules. Because some of these people are not living and working in the host country legally, mistreatment can go unreported out of fear of deportation.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela believes that migrant workers should have the right to remain in the countries that they choose, regardless of whether or not they are legal migrant workers. Venezuela has expressed support for legal and illegal migrant workers through attendance at the International Convention of the Protection of` All Migrant Workers and their families and also by signing and ratifying the resolution associated with that convention on 9 June 1983. On a less formal note, the President of The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has recently called the European Unions updated immigration rules “barbaric,” as the European Union has declared that they will jail and deport immigrants found without passports, and much of MERCOSUR has allowed member citizens to travel over country borders without passports.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelan encourages all states, host and source countries, with the interest of protecting both legal and illegal migrant workers to establish universal protection for these people and their families. Also, it is suggested that a passport free system is established for migrant workers.
Chile on migrant workers
Committee: OAS
Topic: Migrant Workers
Country: Republic of Chile
Delegate: Heather Reynolds
Chile is a long country on the west side of South America that does not have a lot of migrant workers. Because of the very small amount of migrant workers the issue of migrant workers is not big in Chile. Although it does not have a lot of migrant workers it has a lot of migrants. There are a lot of people moving to and from Chile to live for a long period of time and not a lot of people just going to work.
In 1824 the government of Chile enacted a law to encourage Europeans to establish factories and to populate sparsely inhabited southern areas. This started migration to Chile. By 1854 the census showed 20,000 foreigners living in Chile, mostly German. In 1882 the establishment of Immigration Agency in Europe brought 3,000 Europeans to live in Chile.
There is not much information on Chile’s status on migrant workers, right now they are mostly concerned with migrants who live in their country not just work. Most of the foreigners who live in Chile are from; Argentina (48,176), Peru (37,860), Bolivia (10,919), Ecuador (9,393), Spain (9,084) which are all nearby. There are 184,464 foreign-born people living in Chile which is 1.2% of the total population.
Because Chile is not very effected by migrant workers they only have a few policies and they do not take much action for the issue. But because of Chile’s economic growth, political stability, and increased immigration are spurring the development of a new migration policy.
Chile purposed actions with Peru that they thought necessary. They purposed; to make pronouncements and public declarations about migrant problems, to set up specific intervention mechanisms in woman's pay in Central Unions and base unions, and to advise technically migrant workers.
Chile attended the Cavacas conference July 1-3, 2007, it was the 7th South American conference on migration. Other countries that attended were; Argentina, Columbia, Bolivia, Suriname, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay. The conference was concerning the entering into force of the International Convention on the protection of all Migrant workers and their families’ rights.
Chile signed the UN Migration Convention September 24, 1993 and ratified it March 21, 2005. They made reservations to article 22, paragraph 5 of the convention which it considered to be inapplicable to Chile. Chile said they will consider the provisions of article 48, paragraph 2, to be fulfilled under the terms of international conventions to avoid double taxation that either have been entered into or will be entered into in the future.
www.summit-americas.org/migrant%workers/migrant-workers.html
portal.unesco.org/she/en/ev.php-URL_ID=3693&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC%URL_SECTION=201.html
www.unesco.org/most/migration/convention
www.migrationinformation.org/Resources/chile.cfm
Topic: Migrant Workers
Country: Republic of Chile
Delegate: Heather Reynolds
Chile is a long country on the west side of South America that does not have a lot of migrant workers. Because of the very small amount of migrant workers the issue of migrant workers is not big in Chile. Although it does not have a lot of migrant workers it has a lot of migrants. There are a lot of people moving to and from Chile to live for a long period of time and not a lot of people just going to work.
In 1824 the government of Chile enacted a law to encourage Europeans to establish factories and to populate sparsely inhabited southern areas. This started migration to Chile. By 1854 the census showed 20,000 foreigners living in Chile, mostly German. In 1882 the establishment of Immigration Agency in Europe brought 3,000 Europeans to live in Chile.
There is not much information on Chile’s status on migrant workers, right now they are mostly concerned with migrants who live in their country not just work. Most of the foreigners who live in Chile are from; Argentina (48,176), Peru (37,860), Bolivia (10,919), Ecuador (9,393), Spain (9,084) which are all nearby. There are 184,464 foreign-born people living in Chile which is 1.2% of the total population.
Because Chile is not very effected by migrant workers they only have a few policies and they do not take much action for the issue. But because of Chile’s economic growth, political stability, and increased immigration are spurring the development of a new migration policy.
Chile purposed actions with Peru that they thought necessary. They purposed; to make pronouncements and public declarations about migrant problems, to set up specific intervention mechanisms in woman's pay in Central Unions and base unions, and to advise technically migrant workers.
Chile attended the Cavacas conference July 1-3, 2007, it was the 7th South American conference on migration. Other countries that attended were; Argentina, Columbia, Bolivia, Suriname, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay. The conference was concerning the entering into force of the International Convention on the protection of all Migrant workers and their families’ rights.
Chile signed the UN Migration Convention September 24, 1993 and ratified it March 21, 2005. They made reservations to article 22, paragraph 5 of the convention which it considered to be inapplicable to Chile. Chile said they will consider the provisions of article 48, paragraph 2, to be fulfilled under the terms of international conventions to avoid double taxation that either have been entered into or will be entered into in the future.
www.summit-americas.org/migrant%workers/migrant-workers.html
portal.unesco.org/she/en/ev.php-URL_ID=3693&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC%URL_SECTION=201.html
www.unesco.org/most/migration/convention
www.migrationinformation.org/Resources/chile.cfm
Committee: OAS
Topic: Rights of Migrant workers
Country: Jamaica
Delegate: Danielle Lorrain
During the 1800s Jamaica had Immigrants came into Jamaica to help with the sugar cane industry. Then Jamaica hit hard times and the economy has gone down since then. So a lot of Jamaicans got to the the UK and the US for jobs since the only ways to make money in Jamaica is tourism an drug dealing. Between people coming and leaving they lose 100,000 people a year.
Jamaica does not like what they call the “Brain drain” which is most of the doctors and teachers leaving the teachers. They want countries like the US and the UK to pay for a half of the coast of training them because Jamaica doesn’t get any benefits for training them. Jamaica has ratified the Migrant Workers Convention as of September 25, 2008. Jamaica wants countries to follow workers comp with Jamaicans that come over on work programs instead of just sending them back when they get hurt keep them there and pay for injuries and missed work. Jamaica can help with any other country that ratified the Migrant Workers Convention.
http://www.nationmaster.com/red/country/jm-jamaica/imm-immigration&all=1, http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Jamaica_-_Emigration/id/1522469, http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20051114/cleisure/cleisure1.html
Topic: Rights of Migrant workers
Country: Jamaica
Delegate: Danielle Lorrain
During the 1800s Jamaica had Immigrants came into Jamaica to help with the sugar cane industry. Then Jamaica hit hard times and the economy has gone down since then. So a lot of Jamaicans got to the the UK and the US for jobs since the only ways to make money in Jamaica is tourism an drug dealing. Between people coming and leaving they lose 100,000 people a year.
Jamaica does not like what they call the “Brain drain” which is most of the doctors and teachers leaving the teachers. They want countries like the US and the UK to pay for a half of the coast of training them because Jamaica doesn’t get any benefits for training them. Jamaica has ratified the Migrant Workers Convention as of September 25, 2008. Jamaica wants countries to follow workers comp with Jamaicans that come over on work programs instead of just sending them back when they get hurt keep them there and pay for injuries and missed work. Jamaica can help with any other country that ratified the Migrant Workers Convention.
http://www.nationmaster.com/red/country/jm-jamaica/imm-immigration&all=1, http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Jamaica_-_Emigration/id/1522469, http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20051114/cleisure/cleisure1.html
Committee: Commission on Human Rights
Topic: Migrant workers
Country: The Republic of Guatemala
Delegate: Morgan Endicott Mitchell, Boothbay Region High School
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in article 13, “everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.” This document also states in article 23, “everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and protection against the right to equal pay for equal work.” Although these ideals present valid, valuable and hopeful declarations, the realities are often not as optimistic. Continual discrimination and prejudices pervade many nations and their working citizens. It is the essential task of the global community to end this kind of inequity for migrant workers; all persons deserve equal treatment, opportunity and respect. Cooperative measures have been taken in order ensure the equal rights for migrant workers yet the issues continue to plague Central American states, namely Guatemala. Such efforts include the “Migration Decree 95-98” signed by the Guatemalan government in December 1998 to regulate transactions with other countries in accordance with international principles. While considering the severity of the violations that occur and their affect on the Guatemalan people, Guatemala urges the advancement of resolutions around the rights of migrant workers both entering and leaving this developing, Central American nation.
Guatemala is a country with a population of approximately 14 million where about 80% of its citizens live below the poverty line. This nation has a very high rate of emigration. Instability with the country’s economic infrastructure and governance, violence and extreme poverty provide justified incentive to migrate. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Guatemala cites that there are about 40,000 Guatemalan citizens fleeing the country per year. Most of the emigrants travel to Mexico and the United States to find work. The United States’ wages are approximately six times higher than those of Guatemala. These migrant laborers are employed in many diverse fields from manual labor, domestic tasks and factory work.
Those migrating into the United States are subject to deportation. Approximately 60,000 Guatemalans are deported from Mexico and an average of 2,500 are deported from the United States, including gang members who bring a culture of violence back to their native nation.
Guatemala believes that in order to improve the situations for migrant workers, it is essential that nations receiving and employing Guatemalan emigrants follow more closely The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This includes the implementation of several trained administrative bodies witch would ensure the humane treatment of these workers. Guatemala also recognizes, however, that this is a multi-faceted issue and will call for continual support form the involved governments, civil societies, businesses and educational systems.
Guatemala applauds the present institutions in place that address migrants’ rights. The Migrant Services Office ensures compliance with the rights of migrant workers and conditions of their entry into the United States. The “Office of the Ombud for the Uprooted and Migrant Population” is a mechanism to inspect governing bodies and prevent abuse of authority through failure to comply with the obligations deriving from an individual employment contract. Further efforts must continue to be implemented.
www.migrationinformation.org
www.lawharvard.edu/students/org
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Topic: Migrant workers
Country: The Republic of Guatemala
Delegate: Morgan Endicott Mitchell, Boothbay Region High School
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in article 13, “everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.” This document also states in article 23, “everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and protection against the right to equal pay for equal work.” Although these ideals present valid, valuable and hopeful declarations, the realities are often not as optimistic. Continual discrimination and prejudices pervade many nations and their working citizens. It is the essential task of the global community to end this kind of inequity for migrant workers; all persons deserve equal treatment, opportunity and respect. Cooperative measures have been taken in order ensure the equal rights for migrant workers yet the issues continue to plague Central American states, namely Guatemala. Such efforts include the “Migration Decree 95-98” signed by the Guatemalan government in December 1998 to regulate transactions with other countries in accordance with international principles. While considering the severity of the violations that occur and their affect on the Guatemalan people, Guatemala urges the advancement of resolutions around the rights of migrant workers both entering and leaving this developing, Central American nation.
Guatemala is a country with a population of approximately 14 million where about 80% of its citizens live below the poverty line. This nation has a very high rate of emigration. Instability with the country’s economic infrastructure and governance, violence and extreme poverty provide justified incentive to migrate. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Guatemala cites that there are about 40,000 Guatemalan citizens fleeing the country per year. Most of the emigrants travel to Mexico and the United States to find work. The United States’ wages are approximately six times higher than those of Guatemala. These migrant laborers are employed in many diverse fields from manual labor, domestic tasks and factory work.
Those migrating into the United States are subject to deportation. Approximately 60,000 Guatemalans are deported from Mexico and an average of 2,500 are deported from the United States, including gang members who bring a culture of violence back to their native nation.
Guatemala believes that in order to improve the situations for migrant workers, it is essential that nations receiving and employing Guatemalan emigrants follow more closely The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This includes the implementation of several trained administrative bodies witch would ensure the humane treatment of these workers. Guatemala also recognizes, however, that this is a multi-faceted issue and will call for continual support form the involved governments, civil societies, businesses and educational systems.
Guatemala applauds the present institutions in place that address migrants’ rights. The Migrant Services Office ensures compliance with the rights of migrant workers and conditions of their entry into the United States. The “Office of the Ombud for the Uprooted and Migrant Population” is a mechanism to inspect governing bodies and prevent abuse of authority through failure to comply with the obligations deriving from an individual employment contract. Further efforts must continue to be implemented.
www.migrationinformation.org
www.lawharvard.edu/students/org
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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