Migrants to be treated with Dignity
International Migrants Day / 18 December / Article
Migrants to be treated with Dignity
Fr Dr M. D. Thomas
Director, Institute of
Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi
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18 December is observed as ‘International Migrants
Day’. The day was marked by the United Nations, which in its General Assembly
adopted it on 18 December 1990. The resolution was passed in the International
Convention on the ‘Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members
of their Families.
Accordingly, every year the contributions made by
roughly 272 million migrants, including 41 million displaced persons, are
highlighted by the UN related agency, IOM, that is to say, ‘International
Organization for Migration’. This global event is supported by some 500 offices
and sub-offices, along with governmental, international and domestic civil
society partners, world over.
The ‘International Migrants Day’ is an invitation to all
UN member states, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to
observe this day, in view of affirming the human rights and fundamental
freedoms of migrants. It is an occasion
to recognize the contributions made by millions of migrants to the economies of
the host and home countries.
Coming to the word ‘migrant’,
a migrant is a person who moves from one place to another, within
a country or cross international borders, whereas an ‘immigrant’ is a person
who moves from one country to another. While the former is on a temporary
basis, the latter is on a permanent basis.
Since times immemorial, humanity has been on the move. Migration has several reasons. Some people move in search of work or economic opportunities, to join family or to study. Others move to escape conflict, persecution, terrorism or human rights violations. Still others move in response to the adverse effects of climate change, natural disasters or other environmental factors.
The corona
times have been a great opportunity for creating awareness as regards safe, orderly and regular
migration. The pandemic has also been a point in time to ‘re-imagine human
mobility, enable migrants to re-ignite economies at home and abroad and build
more inclusive and resilient societies.
The UN Secretary General,
Antonio Guterres, stated in his
message on Migrants Day in 2020, “Throughout
human history, migration has been a courageous expression of the individual’s
will to overcome adversity and to live a better life. Today, globalization,
together with advances in communications and transportation, has greatly
increased the number of people, who have the desire and the capacity to move to
other places”.
Many advanced and dynamic
economies require migrant workers to fill jobs that cannot be outsourced and
that do not find local workers willing to take them at going wages. Population
ageing also contributes to this growing demand. As younger generations become
better educated, fewer in their ranks are content with low-paid and physically
demanding jobs, too.
Migrants play a vital role in
the global economy. They bring innovation and growth in both countries, the
country they come from and that they move to. In other words, international
migration is positive for both countries, of origin and of destination. Most
western countries, due to the aging population, require the migrants to sustain
the economy. For this reason, a safe and orderly migration is called for.
Today, more people than ever live in
a country, city or town other than the one, which they were born in. While many
individuals migrate out of choice, many others migrate out of necessity. The
large and increasing number of migrants in the world today is a great
opportunity for the world. On the other hand, it is a challenge to make the
best sense out of it.
The modern times has created
challenges and opportunities for societies throughout the world. The connection
between migration and development has become clear, all the more. Migration provides
for co-development, by way of concerted improvement of economic and social conditions,
at both origin and destination.
Nowadays, migration draws
increasing attention in the world. The challenges and difficulties of
international migration require enhanced cooperation and collective action
among countries and regions. It creates more dialogues and interactions within
countries and regions, along with opportunities for exchange and collaboration.
No doubt, the United Nations is actively playing a catalyst role in this area.
The contribution of migrants in
building more resilient communities through their knowledge, networks and
skills has been commendable. Their work in the areas of heath, transportation
and food services, especially during the corona times, has been highly
creditable, too. On the other hand, millions of migrants have been stranded,
without income or shelter, even unable to return home. They face trafficking
and exploitation, as well.
The aspiration for a well-paid
job in a well-heeled country is a powerful driving force for international
migration. The attraction becomes stronger as the degree of difference in income
among countries continues to grow as high income and low-income countries.
Migration has to be a choice, not a necessity. Commitment to safe and dignified
migration for one and all has to be reaffirmed.
On the occasion of ‘International Migrants
Day 2021’, it is a golden opportunity to resolve to recognize the great
contribution of the migrants, in one’s own country and world over. It has also
to be determined that they will not be discriminated on any ground, but accorded
the human dignity that is due to them, along with all the requirements. May the
phenomenon of migration be a blessing for the world and not a liability!
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The author is Director, ‘Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies’, New Delhi, and is grounded in the diverse ‘disciplines of humanities’. He has been committed to ‘cross-cultural perspectives, cross-scriptural values, constitutional values, interfaith relations, social ethics, communal harmony, national integration and social harmony’, for the past over 40 years. He contributes to the above cause through lectures, articles, books, video messages, conferences, social interactions, views at TV channels, and the like.
He
could be viewed, listened to and contacted at the following portals – websites ‘www.mdthomas.in’ (p), ‘https://mdthomas.academia.edu’ (p), ‘https://drmdthomas.blogspot.com’ (p) and ‘www.ihpsindia.org’ (o); social media ‘https://www.youtube.com/InstituteofHarmonyandPeaceStudies’
(o), ‘https://www.facebook.com/mdthomas53’
(p), and ‘https://twitter.com/mdthomas53’ (p); email ‘mdthomas53@gmail.com’ (p) and telephone 9810535378 (p).
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