Every year, International Migrants Day is observed on December 18 across the world. The special day aims to recognize the contributions and rights of all the migrants worldwide. On this day, the United Nations invites  governments, organizations, and individuals to observe International Migrants Day by distributing information on the human rights and migrants’ fundamental freedoms. Migration has been a courageous expression of the individual’s will to overcome adversity and to live a better life throughout human history.

The theme for the International Migrants Day 2019 is "We Together." According to reports, in 2019, the number of migrants globally reached an estimated 272 million, which is 51 million more as compared to that in 2010. Media reports inform that International migrants comprise 3.5 percent of the global population. According to the United Nations, the observance of International Migrants Day in 2019 will focus on the stories of social cohesion, which are as varied and unique as each of the 272 million migrants living new lives and building new communities in every corner of the globe.

International Migrants Day 2019 Date:

In 2019, the International Migrants Day 2019 will be observed on December 18. The theme this year is 'We Together'. The observance of International Migrants Day this year aims to focus on the stories of social cohesion, which are as varied and unique as each of the 272 million migrants living new lives and building new communities in every corner of the globe.

International Migrants Day History and Significance:

The International Organization for Migration salutes migrants and the communities, which they join and remake through mutual effort.  It was on   December 4, 2000, that the United Nations General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed December 18 as International Migrants Day. On that day, in 1990, the United Nations Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

According to a press release by the UN, the new era has created challenges and opportunities for societies throughout the world. It also has served to underscore the clear linkage between migration and development, as well as the opportunities it provides for co-development. International Migrants Day is a global observance and not a public holiday.

"All migrants are entitled to equal protection of all their human rights. On this International Day, I urge leaders and people everywhere to bring the Global Compact to life, so that migration works for all", UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. Every year on this day, the UN invites governments, organizations, and individuals to observe International Migrants Day. People are being educated by distributing information on the human rights and migrants’ fundamental freedoms.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2019 06:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).