The UN Convention on Migrant Workers' Rights is the most comprehensive international treaty in the field of migration and human rights. Adopted in 1990 and entered into force in 2003, it sets a standard in terms of access to human rights for migrants. However, it suffers from a marked indifference: only forty states have ratified it and no major immigration country has done so. This highlights how migrants remain forgotten in terms of access to rights. Even though their labour is essential in the world economy, the non-economic aspect of migration – and especially migrants' rights – remain a neglected dimension of globalisation. This volume provides in-depth information on the Convention and on the reasons behind states' reluctance towards its ratification. It brings together researchers, international civil servants and NGO members and relies upon an interdisciplinary perspective that includes not only law, but also sociology and political science.

‘[This] book offers a good overview of the current challenges of the International Convention on Migrant Workers’ Rights through complementary and informative perspectives. It has the merit of exploring a field which is conspicuously poor in the existing literature. One could accordingly hope that this book will encourage the research community to be more actively involved in this important area.’

Vincent Chetail Source: International Journal of Refugee Law

‘Migration and Human Rights: The United Nations Convention on Migrant Workers’ Rights focuses on human migration as a key to human development in the age of globalization. The volume highlights the importance for the international community of nations to work together to promote and protect the fundamental rights of migrant workers across the world.’

Ritendra Tamang and Ajay Pradhan Source: International Migration Review

‘This original and well-documented book aims both at informing academics, civil society and policymakers, and at promoting the ratification of this key Convention. It is an important contribution for current thinking on migration issues and for the recognition of the potential of a rights-based approach in this field.’

Anne-Claire Gayet Source: Population

‘Migration and Human Rights: The United Nations Convention on Migrant Workers’ Rights is a unique contribution, as it offers an insight into the historical, political, legal and institutional reasons of why states are so reluctant to ratify this international measure. This collection represents a useful source for scholars and practitioners interested in migration, human rights and integration studies within the international arena.’

Sonia Morano-Foadi Source: International Journal of Law in Context

'This book will surely be of interest to a wide spectrum of people including academics, policymakers, NGO activists and people working on migration issues within international organisations.'

Daniela DeBono Source: Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies