On 18 December 1990, the General Assembly had adopted a resolution on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all migrants and their family members.
On this International Migrants Day, it is important to highlight the significance and status of international immigrants around the globe. About 272 million immigrants make up 3.5% of the world’s population. Although this figure seems modest, the growth has surpassed projections for 2050.
Traditionally, the motivation to immigrate has been related to finding adequate work or studying in prestigious institutions. However, millions of people have been driven out of their homelands due to conflict, war, violence, and climate change. In countries where civil life is disturbed by war, people are forced to migrate from these regions. This is why millions of people in Syria, Yemen, Central African Republic of the Congo, and Afghanistan have immigrated to neighboring countries or to developed regions.
Although refugees and internally displaced persons make up a relatively small portion of the total number of migrants, they are often the ones most in need of help. Climate change is also a cause of increasing numbers of immigrants as recurring natural disasters like floods, cyclones, and hurricanes have forced people out of their homes, particularly in Mozambique, Philippines, China, India, and the United States.
On this International Migrants Day, it is important for policy makers to keep in mind immigrants as a marginalized segment of society which deserves attention.
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