Geneva-Damascus-Sana
Today, Syria began discussing its second and third periodic report on the implementation of its obligations related to protecting the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families before the Committee on the Protection of Migrant Workers, in Geneva.
The Syrian delegation was headed by the Head of the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic in Geneva, Ambassador Husam El-Din Ala and Dr. Khawla Youssef from the mission, while the video discussion took place from Damascus, Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Muhammad Firas Nabhan, President of the Syrian Commission for Family and Population Affairs, Eng. Samar Al-Sibai, and Dr. Yasser Kalzy, representing the Ministry of Interior .
Ambassador Ala indicated that the report before the committee is the result of a broad national consultative process that was conducted in order to reflect the challenges related to the implementation of the Convention at the national level, pointing out that Syria is keen to implement its national obligations under the international instruments to which it is a party.
Ala added, “Syria is determined to continue its efforts to strengthen its international commitments in national legislation and policies, stressing the importance of cooperation and dialogue at all bilateral, regional and international levels in migration and labor issues, noting that the discussion of the report is an opportunity for a meaningful and constructive dialogue in accordance with the frameworks and concepts included in the agreement and the mandate entrusted to the committee.”
And from Damascus, Deputy Minister Nabhan stated in response to some questions that Syria had issued a number of legislations to harmonize them with the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, noting that Labor Law No. 17 of 2010 includes the prevention of violating the principle of equal opportunities or equal treatment and discrimination among workers, indicating that The Ministry is working in the framework of developing national legislation with a comprehensive amendment to the Labor Law and Decree 65 of 2013 regarding the organization of domestic service for non-Syrians in line with the provisions of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
For his part, Dr. Kelzy indicated that Syria organized in the Civil Status Law the registration of births and the absence of stateless persons in Syria, and addressed the issue of persons without registration, pointing out that Syria is making tremendous efforts within the available capabilities to address the repercussions and unilateral coercive measures and reduce the burdens on the Syrian citizen.
It is noteworthy that Syria has been a party to the agreement since 2005 and submitted its first report in 2008. Discussion of the current report continues over three sessions on 22, 23 and 26 of this month.
Muhannad Suleiman
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