The 21st Century Migrant: A Review of the Convention on the Protection of Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families: A Case Study of Libya

Abstract

In our contemporary societies, migration has become one of the essential features. It is also perceived as a significant opportunity for growth and a task for governance and societal interrelation. Migration has impacted virtually every country across the globe. This is so because every country is the origin, transit or destination. “In some cases, many countries are all three of these”. “Migrants are primarily social beings, explicitly the holders of universal human rights, whose rights, dignity and security entail specific and detailed protection”. Undeniably, not being within the confines of the legal protection of their countries of origin/ nationality can make international migrants susceptible to abuse and mistreatment as in the case of Libya and migrant slavery. The study reviewed the convention on the protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families with a focus on its strength and weaknesses. Using a desk research method, the study ascertained that the convention is ineffective in respect of protecting migrant workers and members of their families. This is because, some provisions in the document interfere with the sovereignty of many countries which encourages illegal migration thereby making it difficult for such countries to adopt and put to use. The paper concludes that the convention is ineffective and recommends that it should be critically reviewed so that it can be adopted by all countries and mainstreamed globally.