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).