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International Migrants Day offers a chance to promote the defence of immigrant rights and draw attention to their vital role in forming international societies.
International Migrants Day is celebrated every year on December 18 to bring attention to the difficulties they encounter around the world. This day offers a chance to promote the defence of immigrant rights and draw attention to their vital role in forming international societies. Migration has played a significant role in human history, as the day also honours the social, cultural, and economic changes brought about by migrants.
International Migrants Day 2024: Theme
According to the World Health Organization, this year’s International Migrants Day theme is “Honouring the Contributions of Migrants and Respecting Their Rights”.
The theme serves as a helpful reminder of the benefits that migrants bring to the nations and societies in which they reside, the obstacles that they must overcome to reach their full potential, and the pressing need for cooperation to make migration as safe as possible.
International Migrants Day 2024: History
The UN General Assembly established a set of obligations to improve migrant safety in 1960, at its first-ever conference on massive refugee migrations.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed December 18 to be International Migrants Day on December 4, 2000.
It has since been observed to honour the UN General Assembly’s 1990 approval of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
International Migrants Day 2024: Significance
As per The World Health Organisation, the number of migrant deaths is increasing despite media attention and political pledges as 2023 had the greatest yearly death toll ever, with more than 8500 deaths.
It is impossible to prevent or stop migration, it is a natural process and a phenomenon that keeps changing the world as more and more people relocate in pursuit of better possibilities.
The aftermath of natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis also forces some people to migrate. WHO claims that this global occasion not only honours migrants but also serves as a catalyst for the promotion of human rights and the unification of the international community in utilising the transformative potential of migration.
International Migrants Day 2024: Quotes
- Migrants are not a burden. They are a gift – Ban Ki-moon
- We should not fear migration. We should embrace it as an opportunity to learn from each other and build a more inclusive world – Malala Yousafzai
- The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources – because it was nourished by so many
culture
s and traditions and peoples- Lyndon B Johnson
- Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists- Franklin D Roosevelt
- Refugees are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, with the same hopes and ambitions as us, except that a twist of fate has bound their lives to a global refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale – Khaled Hosseini
By celebrating this day, we reaffirm our dedication to creating diverse, inclusive societies that respect each person’s rights and dignity, regardless of where they are from.
Migration is more than just relocating, it’s also about pursuing opportunities, being resilient, and holding onto hope.
As we commemorate this day, let’s recognise the contributions made by migrants and work towards a society where their paths are treated fairly and kindly.
