According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), there are an estimated 272 million people currently living outside their country of origin—approximately 3.5 percent of the world’s population. The observance of International Migrants Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the contributions of international migrants to both their country of origin and their country of destination. 

IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION

Some of the most progressive economies in the world require migrant workers to fill jobs that their own citizens are not willing to take due to low wages. This is mainly since the younger generations are becoming better educated and seek more highly-paid jobs. Thus, there is strong evidence that migration assists the host country as well as the origin country. International migration produces financial and social benefits for migrants and for their families. The salaries earned by international migrants and the resulting surplus funds sent home (remittances) comprise the second largest flow of capital to developing countries. Migration is imperative for the transfer of skills and offers essential innovation for global growth. Additionally, international migrants are vital in diversifying the social fabric of our societies. 

PROTECTION OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS

On 18 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. On 4 December 2000, considering the increase in the number of migrants in the world, the General Assembly further declared 18 December as International Migrants Day. On 19 September 2016, the UN General Assembly adopted a set of commitments during its first summit on large movements of refugees and migrants. The commitments are known as the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, which paved the way for the adoption of two new global compacts in 2018: the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular migration. The Summit strengthened governance of international migration by allowing member states to hold discussions and create a more responsible system for responding to the movements of refugees and migrants.

CHALLENGES INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS FACE 

Although some international migrants have described their migration experience as “empowering,” it must be highlighted that the absence of a human rights-based migration governance at the global and national levels has led to abuse of migrants’ rights in the countries to which they travel. The anti-migrant dialogue embedded within the media, the political sphere, and among the public has become routine in many states around the world. In the past few months, we have seen the attack launched on migrants in rubber dinghies, who have taken life-threatening and unimaginable journeys. Although there are migrants who make the trip legally, many others do not have access to legal channels. Therefore, some migrants make the decision to travel without documents, exposing themselves to exploitation and abuse. Unfortunately, many migrants and refugees lose their lives or go missing. Reports of missing and dead, from Central America to the Sahara, emphasise the risks that people are prepared to take in search for a better life in another country.  

Furthermore, Covid-19 adds a further burden to international migrants. The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on refugees’ and migrants’ capabilities to sustain their livelihoods. As reported by IOM, during the first few months of the pandemic an estimated 2.7 million international migrants were adversely affected. Some states have also used the pandemic to defend their decisions to use immigration detention and deportation of migrants without due process of the law. There is an urgent need to adopt alternatives to detention and deportation to protect migrants from suffering. Notwithstanding the above-mentioned challenges, some states are working to guarantee that refugees and migrants are included in their national responses to the pandemic. 

The challenges of international migration require collective action among states. We live in an era of “fake news” and misleading information on migration, so it is now more important than ever that we recognise the positive contributions of international migrants and the challenges they face. It is essential that states strive to improve social inclusion of migrants, which will assist in eradicating the preconceived ideas about migration. It is also worth remembering what Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “All migrants are entitled to equal protection of all their human rights.”

Mary is currently undertaking the Bar Professional Training Course at BPP Law School. She holds an LLM from Queen Mary, University of London. Mary has a particular interest in international human rights, criminal and social justice issues.