On this International Migration Day, we come together to act toward realizing the rights and responsibilities of migrants so that migration becomes a positive experience for all including the communities of origin, transit, and destination.
Although many migrants have been sources of innovation and with their hard work played a critical role for economic development of the origin, transit, and destination countries, many migrants have been vulnerable to abuse, stigma, and xenophobic attacks.
Around 281 million international migrants and 70 million internally displaced people makes migration a major issue in the international agenda.
Target 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development asks Member States to be committed to cooperate internationally to facilitate safe, orderly, and regular migration. Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration has been adopted by most of the UN Member States in 2018 followed closely by formal endorsement by the UN General Assembly on the 19 of December.
IFSW emphasizes that social workers play an important role in implementing the Global Compact. Social workers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values to work with communities, families and individuals toward the empowerment and integration of migrants.
The International Migrants Day theme for 2023 is: Honoring the Contributions of Migrants and Respecting their Rights. On this day, IFSW calls to remove social neglect, elimination, and discrimination against migrants and for acceptance and inclusive policies so that migrants can fulfil their potential and communities of origin, transit, and destination will benefit from migration.
IFSW United Nations Commission