International Migrants Day: Providing Opportunity to International Community to Provide Rights and Dignity to

International Migrants Day

Providing Respect, Dignity, Opportunity and Livelihood The International Migrants Day is observed every year on December 18 to discuss the challenges and difficulties that are faced by millions of migrants all over the world. The day also reflects upon the courage shown by migrants to build their life in a totally new place.

The migrants travel to new place in search of opportunities and livelihood and above all security that will allow them to establish themselves with a new identity. Some migrants are forced out from their own place to escape discrimination. It is the responsibility of the nation that receives these migrant population to provide them with better future.

Introduction: Governments Endorsing Key Messages for Rights and Freedom of Migrants

It was on December 4, 2000, the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 18 as the International Migrants Day. In the high-level dialogue on International Migration and Development, which was conducted by the General Assembly on September 14 and 15, 2006, the participating member states endorsed a number of key message

they highlighted that the migration of population is growing into a phenomenon that is making a big positive contribution to the development of country from where the population has moved and also made a big contribution towards country where the population settles, they stressed upon the rights and freedom of all migrants and they valued the importance of international cooperation on international migration.

Reason for Migration

Escape War, Diseases and Disasters

Also, people all over the world migrate to another country to escape the impacts of war and conflicts, diseases and disasters. Over the past five decades, the estimated number of international migrants has increased to about 281 million people.

Better Standard of Living or Development

The main driver for people to move to another country is a well-paid job waiting for them to free them of poverty. The attraction of money and imbalance between rich and poor countries have succeeded in widening gap between high and low-income countries.

Migration Increasing Manpower

In advanced countries, the demand for manpower is high. This increased demand provides migrant workers the opportunity to fill job vacancies, which the local workers are unwilling to do. The local population in these countries are highly educated, making them averse to work with less wages, which in another way helps the migrant population to earn their livelihood.

Migrants Being Part of Economic Development

Influx of migrant labourers brings down the wages of the receiving country, leading to the higher levels of unemployment in the local region. Decrease in wages may also lead to higher unemployment among low-skilled workers in developed economies. But most migrants won't compete with local population.

With migrants pocketing most of the low-paying jobs, they are allowing the local-skilled population to perform or focus more towards productive and better paying jobs. The migrants meanwhile are getting involved in the development of their adopted country, achieving and helping the country to boost the economic growth.

The migrants mainly are not from the poor strata of any given country, but they are from the middle income-level households. But when these middle-income migrants move to other countries and are well settled, they bring with them poor cousins or friends who then try to establish themselves in the new country and become part of the economic growth, eventually increasing their standard of living.

A Platform to Share Experiences

The International Migrants Day provides a platform for migrants to discuss their stories and experiences to inform their fellow population who need a basic thought process approach and courage to move to a better standard of living.

Approach of International Community

In September 2016, the UN General Assembly discussed the movement of refugees and migrants in a high-level summit, with the main aim to bring countries together to develop a well-coordinated approach. It was the first time that the General Assembly asked for a summit of the heads of state to discuss the large movements of refugees and migrants and to respond fully through a well-coordinated approach for issues pertaining to migrants.

In December 2018, the Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in Marrakech adopted the Global Compact, which recognised the need for a cooperative approach to optimize the overall benefits of migration. It addressed the risks and challenges for migrants in their own countries, travel and final destination.