Protecting migrant women in the labour market
Reply to Recommendation
| Doc. 12870
| 06 February 2012
- Author(s):
- Committee of Ministers
- Origin
- Adopted at the 1132nd meeting of
the Ministers’ Deputies (1 February 2012). 2012 - March Standing Committee
- Reply to Recommendation
- : Recommendation 1970
(2011)
- Thesaurus
1. The Committee of Ministers has examined
with interest Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1970 (2011)
on “Protecting migrant women in the labour market” which it communicated
to the European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS), to the European
Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), to the Steering
Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG), to the European
Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) and to the Governmental Committee
of the European Social Charter.
2. The Committee of Ministers agrees with the Parliamentary Assembly
on the importance of protecting the fundamental rights of migrant
women; in particular as they are sometimes faced with double discrimination based
on their gender and their origin, both in the host country and in
their communities. In line with the Council of Europe’s priorities,
such protection can be promoted through a more efficient integration
of migrants, with adequate attention being given to ensuring that
gender issues are fully borne in mind in migration (e.g. employability)
and integration policies (e.g. access to education and services).
3. The Committee of Ministers would inform the Assembly that
the new Programme of Activities provides a new impetus to the Council
of Europe action in the field of migration, integration and asylum.
In 2012-2013, the Council of Europe will focus on areas where it
can offer a useful contribution based on its core values, existing
standards and recognised expertise, and include in particular the
area of integration of migrants, including combating xenophobia,
intolerance and discrimination as well as promoting migrants’ participation
in and interaction with the receiving societies.
4. The Committee of Ministers would recall that extensive standard-setting
and policy work has already been carried out in the intergovernmental
sector on migration-related issues, addressing issues such as access to
employment, discrimination in the labour market, labour mobility
of migrants, validation of skills of migrants obtained in informal
or non-formal settings, legal and social protection of migrants
and persons of migrant background. Many recommendations developed
by the Council of Europe in recent years have addressed,
inter alia, the particular vulnerability
of migrant women in the labour market and proposed practical measures to
promote their integration and participation.
Note The focus of work of
the Council of Europe in the field of migration in 2012-13 will
shift from developing new standards to promoting more effective
and responsible use of these and other standards as well as to ensuring
appropriate follow-up to the findings of the monitoring mechanisms.
Upon the request from the member States, the Council of Europe will
be carrying out specific capacity building activities intended to
promote social inclusion of migrants, and respect for their human
rights. Co-operation with the European Union and its institutions
and agencies (European Commission, FRA, EASO, FRONTEX) will be prioritised.
5. In this respect, the Committee of Ministers draws attention
to the relevant work carried out by the various monitoring mechanisms
of the Council of Europe alongside the European Court of Human Rights,
such as the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), the European
Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), as well as the
work of the Commissioner for Human Rights. The activities and procedures
of these bodies are efficient tools in identifying problems in member
States and proposing solutions.
6. The new transversal programme on gender equality to be established
in 2012 will naturally provide support to relevant activities of
the new Programme of Activities in the field of migration, integration
and asylum. Ongoing work and activities include the promotion, ratification
and implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing
and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence which
devotes an entire chapter to women migrants and asylum seekers facing
gender-based violence. It contains a number of obligations that
aim at generating a gender-sensitive understanding of violence against
migrant women and women asylum seekers.
7. The Committee of Ministers would call on the European Union
and member States to give due consideration to the relevant recommendations
of the Assembly outlined in paragraph 3 and encourage member States,
as appropriate, to enlist the assistance of the Organisation as
provided for in the framework of the new Programme of Activities,
with a view to furthering the integration and protection of migrant
women, including in the labour market. Migrant women, and in particular
those in an irregular situation, are also at risk of becoming victims
of human trafficking. The Committee would therefore urge member
States to ratify, when they are in a position to do so, the Council
of Europe Conventions on Preventing and Combating Violence against
Women and Domestic Violence and on Action against Trafficking in
Human Beings.
8. Finally, the Committee of Ministers welcomes the adoption
of ILO Convention No. 189. It would inform the Assembly that it
does not have the resources at present to consider an awareness-raising
campaign as suggested in paragraph 3.4, but would encourage member
States to launch national campaigns aimed at raising public awareness
for the issues raised regarding the living and working conditions
of migrant domestic workers. The Committee of Ministers will also
bear in mind the Assembly’s recommendation 3.7 in the framework
and development of the Council of Europe’s policy towards its neighbouring
regions.
