Date: Sunday, 18th December 2022; 23rd Anniversary.
Sponsor: United Nations; International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Objective:
The International Migrants Day is annually observed to dismantle prejudices and raise awareness of migrants’ contributions in the economic, cultural and social fields, for the benefit of both their country of origin and their country of destination.
Background:
Globally, the total number of migrants and displaced persons has increased from about 175 million persons in 2000 to 272 million in 2019. One of every ten migrants is under the age of 15. Migration may be driven by many forces, but usually start with aspirations for dignity, safety and peace. With a lot of issues related to unforeseeability, diversity, emergency and complexity, many migrants face life challenge and difficulties in early stage.
Inception:
On 4 December 2000, the UN General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, officially proclaimed 18 December of every year since then International Migrants Day, through the resolution A/RES/55/93.
The date was chosen because it was on 18 December 1990 that the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (A/RES/45/158).
How to celebrate the Day:
Each year since 2000, many states, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations observe this Day by disseminating information on human rights, sharing experiences, and undertaking action to ensure the protection of migrants.
Making migrants’ voices heard is the common thread. Since 2016, International Migrants Day has also served as a platform for the Gala final event of IOM’s three-week-long Global Migration Film Festival.
International Migrants Day can also be celebrated by hosting a range of events, including seminars, lectures, conferences, educational programs, and social media campaigns, to raise and spread awareness of fundamental rights of migrants.
Each year a specific theme for International Migrants Day is selected, by the United Nations, to dismantle prejudices and recognize migrants’ contributions.
Annual theme in recent years:
2022 theme: “Promoting Safe Migration”
2021 theme: “More Than Migrants”
2020 theme: “Reimagining Human Mobility”
2019 theme: “We Together”
2018 theme: “Migration with Dignity”
2017 theme: “Safe Migration in A World on the Move”
Official websites:
www.un.org/en/observances/migrants-day
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