International Migrants Day 2023
International Migrants Day is celebrated on December 18th each year. It is the day to acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of migrant communities globally. Migrants play a very important/crucial role in contributing to the development, economic, social, and cultural fabric of societies around the world. However, they often face various problems, challenges and vulnerabilities, including discrimination, exploitation, barriers and lack of access to essential services.
History:
International Migrants Day began on the 18th of December 1990, when the international convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their Families was created. On 4th December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) dedicated 18th December as International Migrants Day, considering the large and increasing number of migrants in the world. International migrant's day falls on Saturday in this year 2024.
Migration report 2022:
The current global estimate as per the migration report published by IOM in 2022 is that there were around 281 million international migrants globally in 2020, which equates to 3.6% of the global population.
| Year | Migrants (in millions) | Percentage of the population |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 153 | 2.87% |
| 1995 | 161 | 2.81% |
| 2000 | 174 | 2.83% |
| 2005 | 192 | 2.93% |
| 2010 | 221 | 3.17% |
| 2015 | 249 | 3.37% |
| 2020 | 281 | 3.60% |
Aim and importance of the day:
On International Migrants Day, various activities and events are organized globally international organization for migration (IOM) to raise awareness about migrant issues and promote solidarity with migrant communities. These may include educational seminars, cultural events, art exhibitions, film screenings, and advocacy campaigns aimed at highlighting the contributions of migrants and addressing the challenges they face across the world. This is celebrated in order to acknowledge the ‘significance of migrants’ contributions to their host and home nations' economies and societies, as well as stand for their rights and dignity.
The day is also a platform for policy makers, government officials, civil society organizations and individuals to congregate with the aim of discussing and advocating for inclusive and rights-based migration policies. It calls for enhanced international cooperation as well as solidarity by the international community in order to deal with the root causes of migration, protect human rights of migrants, ensure dignity in their treatment, and facilitate their integration into host societies.
In remembering International Migrants Day, the world renews its dedication to defending the rights and inherent worth of migrants, encouraging social integrity and interconnection, as well as constructing a more just and caring global society. This is a day meant for marking diversity, appreciating migrants’ contributions and affirming the principles of fairness, justice as well as universal human rights regardless of their immigration status.