International Migrants Day is intended to celebrate the role of migrants and the contribution of migration to the development of many communities. It allows the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to emphasize human rights while highlighting the positive impacts of population movements.
This day is more relevant than ever with the constant increase of migrants moving around the world on a voluntary or forced basis. According to the most recent data, 281 million people were living in a country other than their country of birth in 2021. This is an increase of 128 million compared to 1990. This is three times the number in 1970.
The United Nations invites NGOs and Member States to promote the fundamental freedoms of migrants and to propose actions to preserve their security. The organization stresses the importance of being aware of the magnitude of the phenomenon of population movements in order to develop strategies and policies to take advantage of the contribution of migration on their territory and to protect the fundamental rights of the migrant person.
The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) adopted a collective stand in support of migrant and refugee persons in 2017. Since then, the SNJMs have been involved in outreach and collaborating with others to assist migrant persons.
Watch a video clip of a Syrian family now living in Canada.
For more information, see the World Migration Report 2022.