The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW Committee), published its Concluding Observations on Mexico, Niger and Jamaica adopted during the 40th session. Following Coamex - Mexico Coalition for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs umbrella organization) and International Disability Alliance's collaboration, the Concluding Observations on Mexico included a strong focus on the rights of migrants with disabilities.
In contrast to the previous 17 Concluding Observations (sessions 34th to 39th), which included few to no references to disability, except Peru, the Mexico report includes 12 references to disability and migrants with disabilities. Moreover, the Committee not only included migrants with disabilities and/or disability into broader recommendations on intersectionality and ministerial coordination, but also issued standalone recommendations focusing exclusively on the rights of migrants with disabilities.
Importantly, most likely in response to Coamex’s submissions, the Committee expressed its concern on "[a]llegations of cases of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of migrants with disabilities by migration agents and degrading treatment of migrants with disabilities by migration agents and in detention...". Consequently, it recommended Mexico to "[d]evelop and continue to strengthen adequate protection strategies that take into account the specific risks face by vulnerable groups in the context of mobility, ensuring a coordinated response, based on human rights and with an intersectional approach, adopted in consultation and collaboration with civil society organisations specialised in the care of such groups" (see, paras 29(e) and 30(e)).
The CMW Committee recommended Mexico to:
- "[e]nsure full accessibility of services and information for migrants with disabilities, through the implementation of physical adaptations, materials in multiple languages, Braille and sign language, ensuring their effective effective availability at all relevant places of attention" (see para. 26(c)).
- "[e]nsure accessibility and adequate assistance for migrants with disabilities, including access to medical disabilities, including access to medical services, rehabilitation and psychosocial support" (see, para. 50(c)).
Read the full Concluding Observations to Mexico here (available in Spanish)
Coamex's acknowledgements and contact information
COAMEX would like to extend special thanks to its Technical Advisory team and the Albergue Constitución de 1917, located in Mexico City, for all the information provided and for identifying the cases that were presented to the CMW Committee.
For more information disability and migration in Latin America, please contact Coamex Email address: contacto [at] coamex.org.mx
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