International migrant day

 

On December 18, 1990, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was approved by the United Nations General Assembly, after almost a decade of governmental negotiations and pressure from migrant rights advocates around the world.

Following lobbying efforts by advocates and migrant groups, in December 2000 the United Nations proclaimed December 18 as International Migrants Day.

Since 2001, in solidarity with other migrant rights organizations around the world, NNIRR has commemorated this day with members and allies. Each year we assist growing numbers of local events and initiatives with widely-endorsed call-to-actions, educational and organizing materials, and commemorative posters and t-shirts.

2008 has been a challenging year in the struggle for immigrant rights, with immigration raids, detentions and deportations taking place during the course of the build up to the recent election.

During the last eight years of the Bush Administration NNIRR has witnessed and experienced the assault on the human rights of immigrants: families, workers and entire communities subjected to intense policing, hundreds of thousands detained, and due process rights blatantly violated and ignored.

Using new forms of illegal racial, ethnic/nationality and religious profiling, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) heightened policing of immigrant workers, violating their labour rights, implemented special policies, including secret programs targeting Arabs, Muslims, South Asians and Sikhs, and illegally rounded up and deported hundreds of thousands.

In recognition of the challenges ahead of us, NNIRR calls on organizations and individuals around the country to commemorate this year’s International Migrants Day with a local event or action highlighting the following demands:

-The immediate cessation of all immigration policing and raids;

– A moratorium on all immigration detentions and deportations, while hearings — that must include the testimony of those affected — are held to determine the changes needed to restore due process rights and humanitarian policies and to hold DHS accountable.

By ending raids and placing detentions and deportations on hold, President-elect Obama and the new Congress can create a respite to consider humanitarian policy alternatives that reinstate due process and the rule of law to immigration services and enforcement.

We encourage these activities and messages as a launch pad to press the new Administration and Congress to implement humanitarian policies and practices to decriminalize immigration status and protect the rights of all workers. We must continue to demand a fair and just immigration policy that is “de-linked” from national security, and which includes the demilitarization of our borders.

Especially on International Migrants Day, when we recognize and honour migrants throughout the world, we need to raise awareness about the need for policies that ameliorate involuntary displacement and forced migration, including fair trade and sustainable community development, and fulfilling the need and access to healthcare, education, housing, and safe, healthy environments.

Migrant institutions all over the world:

http://www.migrationmuseums.org/web/index.php?page=members

Radio initiatives:

Farm Radio Weekly

December 18: Celebrate International Migrants Day with the Radio 1812 Event!

For the third year in a row, Radio 1812 will bring together migrant groups and radio stations from around the world to celebrate International Migrants Day on December 18.
All radio stations are invited to participate in this “global radio event” by sharing the voices of migrants in their communities. The event is coordinated by the International Advocacy and Resource Centre on the Human Rights of Migrant Workers to mark December 18, the day designated to celebrate the achievements and highlight the struggles of migrants around the world.

Last year, over 150 radio stations produced, broadcast, and shared programs on migrants and migration. Radio 1812 would like to hear from radio organizations interested in participating in this year’s event as soon as possible, at: radio1812@december18.net. More information is available at: www.radio1812.net

Find out more: www.nnirr.org/december18 ; www.migrantwatch.organd www.december18.net.