Throughout human history, migration has been a courageous expression of the individual’s will to overcome adversity and to live a better life. Today, globalization, together with advances in communications and transportation, has greatly increased the number of people, who have the desire and the capacity to move to other places.
Sadly, there are also times when people are forced out of a place, as a result of ideological differences, war or a natural calamity. They are not always welcome in their newfound home and often face hardships in their day to day lives and become victims of discrimination. International Migrants Day is, thus, observed on 18 December each year, to create awareness in this regard among the people.
The United Nations General Assembly on 4 December 2000, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18 December as International Migrants Day. In 1990, on this day, the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.
On 14 and 15 September, 2006, the 132 Member States participated in the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development which was conducted by the General Assembly. The Member States highlighted that International migration was a growing phenomenon and that it could make a positive contribution to development in countries of origin and countries of destination provided it was supported by the right policies. They also emphasized that migrants’ fundamental rights and freedoms should be respected to reap the advantages of international migration and recognized the importance of strengthening international cooperation on international migration bilaterally, regionally, and globally.
Migration draws increasing attention in the world nowadays. Mixed with elements of unforeseeability, emergency, and complexity, the challenges and difficulties of international migration require enhanced cooperation and collective action among countries and regions. The United Nations is actively playing a catalyst role in this area, with the aim of creating more dialogues and interactions within countries and regions, as well as propelling experience exchange and collaboration opportunities.
Globalization with the advancement of communications and transportations has greatly increased the number of people, who have desired and the capacity to move to other places. Across the world, this new era has created challenges and opportunities for societies.
The enormity of the migrant crisis worldwide has been exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic like never before. The challenges and difficulties faced by migrants are of unimaginable proportions. The television visuals of millions of migrant workers out on the road, when the sudden lockdown was first announced in India in end March, is still fresh in our memory. To mark International Migrants Day in 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has called for the world community to come together and “remember the refugees and migrants who have lost their lives”.
The day recognises the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of migrants around the world. Throughout history, humans have migrated from place to place in search of a better life and a promise of the future. The migrants arrive at new places and enrich the existing communities. They become a part of the community and adapt its various traditions and add their own flavour to it, which results in a beautiful diversity.
The total number of international migrants has increased from an estimated 175 million in 2000 to 244 million persons in 2015. Nearly two thirds of all international migrants live in Europe (76 million) or Asia (75 million). Migration is now more widely distributed across more countries. Today the top 10 countries of destination receive a smaller share of all migrants than in 2000. One of every ten migrants is under the age of 15. The impact of remittance flows is also significant having reached $436 billion in 2014 far exceeding official development assistance and, excluding China, foreign direct investment.
This new era has created challenges and opportunities for societies throughout the world. It also has served to underscore the clear linkage between migration and development, as well as the opportunities it provides for co-development, that is, the concerted improvement of economic and social conditions at both origin and destination. Migration draws increasing attention in the world nowadays.
In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a set of commitments during its first-ever summit on large movements of refugees and migrants to enhance the protection of refugees and migrants. These commitments are known as the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (NY Declaration).
This day is observed to mark the anniversary of the 1990 adoption by UNGA of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
The global migration pact, known as the ‘Global Compact for Safe, orderly and Regular Migration’, was formally adopted by 164 Governments at an international conference in Marrakech, Morocco on December 10, 2018, to address the real challenges of migration while reaping its many benefits. The Compact is people-centered and rooted in human rights.
Millions of migrants are stranded, often without income or shelter, unable to return home due to COVID-19 mobility restrictions, and they also face increased risks of trafficking and exploitation. The pandemic cannot be used as an excuse to rollback commitments to promote and protect the rights of migrants regardless of their legal status. It cannot become an excuse for the increased use of detention, often in overcrowded conditions, and the forced return of migrants to their countries of origin without due process, in many cases in violation of international law.
The theme of International Migrant Day 2020 is ‘Reimagining Human Mobility’. During the past months, migrants are at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. Their work in various sectors including health, transportation, and food services made our lives under lockdown more bearable. They contribute their knowledge, networks, and skills to build stronger, more resilient communities. Due to COVID-19, millions of migrants are stranded, facing job loss and some sort of discrimination. Living without income or shelter. Also, unable to return home due to COVID-19 mobility restrictions and face increased risks of trafficking and exploitation.
