| Abstrakt: |
This article explores the role of special procedures mechanisms of the United Nations Human Rights Council in the promotion of the human rights of migrants, with a focus on thematic mandates. The first section gives an overview of the defining characteristics of special procedures and the general scope of mandate holders’, or independent experts’, work. There follows a brief survey of thematic mandates which are linked to current issues pertaining to migrants, whether explicit and unique or overlapping with other mandates, grouped into the following categories: the human rights of migrants and related groups; contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; and detention and related practices. The third section places the work of the special procedures mechanism in the context of a human rights-based approach to migration, outlining some of the relevant elements of a normative framework protecting the rights of non-citizens, and differentiating this approach from a purely development-focused perspective. Following that is a brief description of the main tools that mandate holders have at their disposal to protect the rights of migrants, including communications, country visits, thematic studies, and awareness raising and capacity building. The conclusion outlines some general recommendations for promoting the human rights of migrants in practice, including building national capacities for a human rights framework applicable to migrants, incorporating the specific needs of women and girls in the migration context, and engaging in advocacy at the community level with a conflict-prevention perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
