A/HRC/RES/26/21 empowerment and personal development prospects and outcomes for migrants and their families, Acknowledging the important role that migrants play as partners in the development of origin, transit and destination countries, and recognizing the need to improve public perceptions of migrants and migration, Noting the observation made by the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, in his report submitted to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-third session,2 that States should adopt and implement an effective national health policy that does not discriminate against nonnationals and that addresses the needs of irregular and regular migrants, at all stages of the migration process, and that States should ensure the availability and accessibility of quality health facilities, goods and services, including existing health insurance schemes, to migrants, on the basis of equality with other nationals, Mindful of the fact that, in the fulfilment of their obligations to protect human rights, States of origin, transit and destination can benefit from schemes of international cooperation, Mindful also that migrant access to health services may help to mitigate the risk of widening inequalities, and recognizing that health contributes to the full enjoyment of human rights, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants,3 invites States to give due consideration to the recommendations contained therein, and welcomes his work; 2. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families as a matter of priority, and requests the SecretaryGeneral to continue his efforts to promote and raise awareness of the Convention; 3. Reaffirms the duty of States to effectively promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, especially those of women and children, regardless of their immigration status, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international instruments to which they are party; 4. Stresses that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health contributes to the full enjoyment of human rights; 5. Calls upon States to promote and protect the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and encourages them to promote equitable access to health services, disease prevention and care for migrants, subject to national laws and practice, without discrimination of any kind; 6. Expresses concern at legislation and measures adopted by some States that may restrict the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, including the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 7. Reaffirms that, when exercising their sovereign right to enact and implement migration and border security measures, States have the duty to comply with their 2 3 A/HRC/23/41. A/HRC/26/35. 3