#TogetherForMigration: More Than Just A Number

“On this International Migrants Day, I call on the international community to act on the global compact on safe, regular and orderly migration as an important contribution to building a world of peace, prosperity, dignity and opportunity for all.” — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

December 18th marked International Migrants Day. This year the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling on the international community to come together and remember the migrants who have lost their lives in 2016 and in previous years. It is important to acknowledge these individuals, treating them with dignity and respect. The World Health Organization highlights the importance of this as “Each [migrant] has a name, a story and left their homelands seeking better opportunities and safety for themselves and in many cases for their families – aspirations that all of us strive for.”

The IOM brings light to the concept that migrants are people too, highlighting the human rights of migrants and ensuring their voices are heard. There have been 7,189 migrant deaths in 2016 however more must be done than simply recording the dead.

Through the Global Movement to Build Social Connectedness, we have together, witnessed and shared the many ways in which we can all play a role in supporting migrants, refugees and displaced peoples.  We must foster a greater sense of inclusion and continue to build strong and resilient communities. We must recognize that each of these migrants are more than a statistic and a label –they are human beings who have something to offer each community they encounter. We must listen and share their stories to create compassionate, kind, hopeful, connected communities.

How will you stand #TogetherForMigration?