RP calls for an end to discrimination of migrants

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government has urged other countries to sign the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (ICPRMW), which would ensure protection and non-discrimination of migrants and their families. Severo Catura, executive director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee of the Philippines, told international delegates at the World Conference on Racism held in Geneva that migrants need protection from various abuses amid the global economic crisis. “Migrants have become even more vulnerable in this global era, and thus need greater protection of their human rights as well as protection from racism and xenophobia," Catura told the High-Level Segment of the Durban Review Conference The Philippines is presenting its initial report to the United Nations Committee on Migrant Workers, the expert body which oversees implementation of the ICPRMW, this week in Geneva, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila said. The Philippines is a state party to the ICPRMW, which has 37 signatories, most from migrants’ countries of origin. The Philippines proposed paragraphs on protection of the human rights and welfare of migrants and combating discrimination against migrants, including migrant domestic workers. The country has always supported the fight against racism. In 1982, the Manila Declaration Against Apartheid recalled that apartheid was a crime against humanity. Philippine lawmakers recently protested the alleged racist column of Chinese journalist Chip Tsao, who referred to the Philippines as ‘a nation of servants.’ Tsao had since apologized after pressure from Manila. [See: It's true, RP is a nation of servants, groups say] - Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV