A Day to Remember the Migrants of the World
Migration: Movement of people away from their place of usual residence, either across an international border or within a State.
Migration can take one away from a country, region, city and even a neighbourhood or district. It may be permanent or temporary. Regular or irregular. Motivated by work or by climate. Due to specific conflicts or a permanent condition of insecurity. We are all–for one reason or another, at some point in our lives–migrants, even in our own environment.
This is why for the last 23 years, on 18 December, we celebrate International Migrant Day to commemorate the adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on 18 December 1990. This day positions migration as one of the solutions to world challenges, among them, adapting to the impact of climate change or providing people better economic opportunities and quality of life.
According to United Nations data, in 2020, there were an estimated 281 million international migrants. This figure, however, continues to rise every year due to conflict, forced displacement or changes in countries’ economic and political conditions.
Regardless of what drives their deployment, migrants or displaced persons are among a society’s most vulnerable and marginalized groups and are often exposed to abuse and exploitation. Their access to essential health services is limited and they have to face xenophobic aggression and stigma as a result of fake news. Besides, many migrant workers hold temporary positions that are informal, unprotected, putting them at even greater risk of insecurity, termination and precarious working conditions.
Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
Nevertheless, people on the move (workers, students, entrepreneurs, families, etc.) are actively engaged in driving development both in their countries of origin and of destination as well. If managed appropriately, mobility can be a cornerstone for sustainable development, prosperity and progress.
That is why the international community is looking for people-centred and evidence-based tools to work on solutions to issues faced by those who remain in their places of origin and those who wish to or have to deploy.
That is where projects emerge, like InfoSegura, the partnership of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), monitoring and analysing data on migration to accompany and advise countries for effective policies to address matters of citizen security.
Along with the so-called Mediterranean route, where thousands of migrants tragically die every year, the Central American route to the United States draws people from countries such as Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, but also, in recent years, from Venezuela, Colombia, etc., seeking better living conditions and safety. Hazards along the way, including criminal gangs and adverse conditions, take many migrants’ dreams and others’ lives.
"The Darien crossing is one of the deadliest and riskiest routes for migrants in Latin America. Extreme conditions and exposure to violence make this a harrowing experience for those seeking a better life," says Marcela Smutt, Regional Coordinator of the InfoSegura project.
Estimates by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate that there were approximately 38 million international migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020.
International Migrant Day reminds us of the importance of protecting the rights of migrants, of acknowledging their contribution to our societies and working to achieve decent living conditions in their countries of origin.
