The 40th Session
As part of the Student Research Programme, Annabella O’Sullivan, Connor Newell, Jette Kok, and Zineb Ez-Zkak, engaged in discussions surrounding the rights of migrant workers and their families and contributed to research on the country reports examined during the 40th session of the UN CMW.
The session, which took place from 7th to 17th April 2025, at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, focused on:
- Considering the country reports of Mexico, Niger and Jamaica, with discussions on legal protection, migration trends and ensuring fair labour conditions.
- Adopting Concluding Observations with recommendations for improving the protection of migrant workers and their families in these countries.
- Officially launching the General Comment 6, linking the Convention to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
- Initiating stronger cooperation with the International Labour Organization, ILO, cooperating specifically on workshops and synergize efforts on ratification campaigns.
The meeting summmaries of the session by the Committee Chair Fatima Diallo can be found here.
Assistant Professor Younous Arbaoui, the initiator of the Student Research Programme, is actively involved in the travaux préparatoires of the UN CMW General Comments. He had the privilege of attending the official launch of the CMW General Comment No. 6 (GC6). This GC focuses on the convergence between the UN Migrant Workers Convention (ICRMW) and the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), which is at the centre of his ongoing research into the relationship between the two frameworks. After the event, Younous noted: “The launch event was a powerful moment of recognition for the normative value of GC6 and for the broader efforts of the Committee to clarify and strengthen the interpretation of the ICRMW. It marked an important milestone. Having been involved in the travaux préparatoires of GC6, between 2022 and 2024, it was meaningful to see the final product officially presented to the public. This launch is also an invitation to all of us—academics, practitioners, policymakers, and civil society—to promote, implement, and further engage with GC6 in our work.” The text of GC 6 is available here.
Student Experience
During their time in Geneva, the students actively supported the Committee’s ongoing research and took part in substantive discussions on key migration issues. Beyond the formal sessions, they engaged informally with Committee members, deepening their understanding of the challenges and dynamics within international migration law.
The in-person engagement offered valuable exposure to the workings of a UN treaty body, complementing the remote research the students conducted from Amsterdam. One student noted: “The experience in Geneva brought us closer to the realities faced by migrant workers than ever before. Observing the formal exchanges between the Committee and various States shed light on the widespread and persistent challenges surrounding this issue globally. The Committee Members' dedication and in-depth questioning were truly eye-opening, revealing the full extent of the problem in a way we hadn't previously considered.”
The Committee on Migrant Workers
The CMW oversees the implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. It works in constructive dialogues with states and civil society to address key challenges in migration governance.
Learn more about the Committee here.
Lear more about the Convention here.
