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