New Delhi: International Migrants Day is observed on December 18 every year. The day raises awareness about the issues that migrants have faced and are still facing. It also raises awareness about migrants’ contributions to host communities and their challenges.
Each year on December 18, the United Nations, through the UN-related agency International Organization for Migration (IOM), uses International Migrants Day to highlight the contributions made by the roughly 272 million migrants, including more than 41 million internally displaced persons, and the challenges they face.
On December 4, 2000, the General Assembly declared December 18 International Migrants Day. This date marks the day in 1990 when the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
In this article, let us look at how the day started and the importance of migrants.
On Wednesday’s International #MigrantsDay, we shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of the millions of migrants around the world.
Together, one step at a time, let’s continue building a world where migration is safe, orderly and beneficial – for everyone, everywhere. pic.twitter.com/Orqy90BHjT
— UN Development (@UNDP) December 18, 2024
History and Significance of International Migrants Day
In 1997, Filipino and other Asian migrant groups celebrated December 18 as the International Day of Solidarity with Migrants. They chose this date because, on that day, the UN adopted the Convention on Migrant Workers’ Rights in 1990.
Building on this movement, in late 1999, with the support of Migrant Rights International and other organisations, campaigns began to ask the UN for an official International Migrants Day. This request was granted on December 4, 2000.
The UN’s declaration of International Migrants Day is a significant step. It provides a platform for those who care about protecting migrant rights. The UN encouraged all member states, organisations, and NGOs to observe this day by sharing information about human rights and freedoms for migrants and taking action to protect them.
International Migrants Day is a chance to celebrate the contributions of millions of migrants to the economies of their home and host countries and promote respect for their basic human rights.
Are migrants important?
Many advanced economies need migrant workers to fill jobs locals are unwilling to take. This need is growing due to an ageing population that creates a shortage of workers compared to those who rely on them.
Migration can sometimes lower wages or increase unemployment for low-skilled workers in advanced economies. Many of these workers are migrants from earlier waves of migration.
However, most migrants help domestic workers by taking on jobs that might otherwise go unfilled or would be more expensive to hire locals for. This allows local workers to focus on other, better-paying jobs. Migrants also keep businesses running that might move abroad without their help. By adding more workers and consumers and being entrepreneurial, migrants help boost economic growth in their new countries.
International migrants often come from middle-income families. Once they settle in a new country, they often help friends and family join them, making migration easier and less risky for others, especially those from poorer backgrounds. Low-skilled migration can significantly help reduce poverty in the migrants’ home communities.
International Migrants Day highlights the significant contributions of millions of migrants worldwide. The day recognises the challenges migrants face while celebrating their positive economic and social impacts on both their home and host countries. The day also serves as a platform to advocate for the protection of migrant rights and raise awareness of their crucial role in global economies. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
