Worldwide
18 December 2009
In 1997, Filipino and other Asian migrant organizations began celebrating and promoting the 18th December as the International Day of Solidarity with Migrants. This date was chosen because it was on 18th December 1990 that the UN adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrants Workers and Members of Their Families.
Building on this initiative, December 18 - with support from Migrant Rights International and the Steering Committee for the Global Campaign for Ratification of the International Convention on Migrants' Rights and many other organizations - began late 1999 campaigning online for the official UN designation of an International Migrant's Day, which was finally proclaimed on December 4th, 2000.
The UN proclamation of the International Migrants' Day is an important step, offering a rallying point for everyone across the world who is concerned with the protection of migrants. The UN invited all UN member states, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to observe this day by disseminating information on human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, sharing experiences, and undertaking action to ensure the protection of migrants.
But it is first of all an opportunity to recognize the contributions made by millions of migrants to the economies and well being of their host and home countries, and to promote respect for their basic human rights.
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