International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families
Adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990
Preamble
The States Parties to the present Convention,
Taking into account the principles embodied in the basic instruments of the United Nations concerning
human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the
Child,
Taking into account also the principles and standards set forth in the relevant instruments elaborated
within the framework of the International Labour Organisation, especially the Convention concerning
Migration for Employment (No. 97), the Convention concerning Migrations in Abusive Conditions and
the Promotion of Equality of Opportunity and Treatment of Migrant Workers (No.143), the
Recommendation concerning Migration for Employment (No. 86), the Recommendation concerning
Migrant Workers (No.151), the Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour (No. 29) and the
Convention concerning Abolition of Forced Labour (No. 105), Reaffirming the importance of the
principles contained in the Convention against Discrimination in Education of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
Recalling the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, the Declaration of the Fourth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the
Treatment of Offenders, the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, and the Slavery
Conventions,
Recalling that one of the objectives of the International Labour Organisation, as stated in its
Constitution, is the protection of the interests of workers when employed in countries other than their
own, and bearing in mind the expertise and experience of that organization in matters related to
migrant workers and members of their families,
Recognizing the importance of the work done in connection with migrant workers and members of their
families in various organs of the United Nations, in particular in the Commission on Human Rights and
the Commission for Social Development, and in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health
Organization, as well as in other international organizations,
Recognizing also the progress made by certain States on a regional or bilateral basis towards the
protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families, as well as the importance
and usefulness of bilateral and multilateral agreements in this field,
Realizing the importance and extent of the migration phenomenon, which involves millions of people
and affects a large number of States in the international community,
Aware of the impact of the flows of migrant workers on States and people concerned, and desiring to
establish norms which may contribute to the harmonization of the attitudes of States through the
acceptance of basic principles concerning the treatment of migrant workers and members of their
families,
Considering the situation of vulnerability in which migrant workers and members of their families
frequently-find themselves owing, among other things, to their absence from their State of origin and
to the difficulties they may encounter arising from their presence in the State of employment,