Introduction

The concept of the migrant as rights bearer at law is surprisingly recent and under-developed. Migrants have traditionally been seen as outsiders, persons who are in society but not yet of society. Migrants are at best invitees, ’guests’ for whom presence in a country is a privilege.

This is the first of two volumes which bring together writings which trace the evolution in thinking about migrants as legal subjects and rights holders. The articles cover: issues around state sovereignty and migrants as subjects of international law; the articulation of rights; different categories of migrants; issues around health and disability.

The volume also features an extended article on the proposal for an International Migrants’ Bill of Rights (IMBR) put forward by an international consortium of academics and students. A related volume Refugees and Rights is also published as part of the series.