December 18 is International Migrants Day because on this day in 1990 the UN endorsed the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
“The UN General Assembly on 19th Sept 2016 adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrations at the UN summit for Refugees and Migrants with the aims of further protecting the rights of refugees and migrants. The summit was a response to the mass movement of refugees/migrants from Africa and the Middle-East into Europe. The New York Declaration paved the way for the development of two separate, distinct and independent compacts, one on Refugees and one on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The principles, procedures and policies for implementation of the Compacts will be in accordance with the 2030 Development Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UN Global Compact on Migration will be the first time a global comprehensive framework for migration has been discussed and developed through a member state-driven process.”
The Australian government has yet to ratify this UN Convention. In early December the US government decided to withdraw from the UN Global Compact on Migration. In response to this decision made by the US government, the Columban US region has written a US Region Statement.
Link: US Columban region calls on the US to respond to the global crisis of migrants and refugees.
How would a day without migrants look like? Contrary to what some may believe, migrants play a vital role in the global economy. Watch this video.