Date: Wednesday, 18th December 2024; 24th Anniversary.
Founder: United Nations; International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Objectives:
International Migrants Day is observed annually for the following purposes:
- to raise awareness of the large and increasing number of migrants in the world,
- to recognize migrants’ contributions in the economic, cultural, and social fields, for the benefit of both their country of origin and their country of destination,
- to promote respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants.
Inception:
International Migrants Day was observed for the first time on 18 December 2000.
History:
On 4 December 2000, the United Nations 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).
Why do we mark International Migrants Day?
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 starts with aspirations for dignity, safety, and peace. With a lot of issues related to unforeseeability, diversity, emergency, and complexity, many migrants face life challenges and difficulties in the early stages.
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 the 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:
2023 theme: “Honoring the Contributions of the Migrants and Respecting Their Rights”.
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 website:
www.un.org/en/observances/migrants-day
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