Migrants Rights International (MRI) is a non-governmental organization and global alliance of migrant associations and migrant rights, human rights, labor, religious, and other organizations which operate at the local, national, regional or international level.

MRI's mission

Its mission is to advocate for the respect, protection and fulfillment of the full range of human rights of migrants around the world and to foster unity and the inclusion of migrant voices at all levels of policy-making.

MRI's objectives

• To promote the recognition and respect for the rights of all migrants and members of their families;
  
• To advocate for universal ratification and effective implementation of the UN International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families;
  
• To facilitate the efforts of migrant associations and other non-governmental organizations in advocating for migrants rights;
  
• To monitor trends and developments in the situation of migrants’ rights and welfare.

MRI's origins

Migration, globalization and human rights have emerged as central social, economic and political challenges reshaping the world at the turn of the century. The most immediate challenge facing societies worldwide is the appalling rise in violence against migrants and
restrictive government measures that undermine the fundamental basic human rights of millions of migrants and their families.

According to UN estimates, over 190 million people are now living permanently or temporarily outside their countries of origin. One out of every 35 people worldwide is currently an international migrant.  This vast number includes migrant workers and their families, refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants. However, this does not take into account those of irregular or undocumented status, for which there are no reliable estimates.

These migrants often become universal “scapegoats,” targeted for violence and excluded from legal protections in many places due to their immigration status or nationality. The increased designation of migrants as “illegal,” further aggravates the deprivation of rights entitled to everyone under international human rights law.  Historically, little international attention, advocacy, and public education had been devoted to upholding the human rights and dignity of migrants other than refugees, despite the elaboration of international human rights standards for migrants and declarations in international conferences calling for cooperation towards the protection of migrants’ rights.  Thus, in 1994, international representatives of  church, human rights, migrant and trade unions, inter-governmental agencies, national and grassroots civil society organizations came together to establish the “International Migrants Rights Watch Committee,” which was renamed Migrants Rights International (MRI) in 2000.