Our planet is under strain like never before: Temperatures are rising, biodiversity is collapsing, and nearly every person on Earth breathes unsafe air.
Yet there is hope.
Now is the time to invest in resilience, commit to justice, and remember what we are fighting for.
Sustainability is the bedrock on which all our other ambitions rest. Peace, prosperity, equality — none of these exist without a planet to exist on.
Now is the time for courage and creativity.
We must rapidly scale solutions on a range of challenges — from water management and climate resilience, to mining metals and the environmental footprint of Artificial Intelligence.
With the tide turning in favor of renewables, and the help of the next generation, transformation is within reach. We must transform broken systems, unite policy with science, and share solutions with all.
Now is the time set humanity on a path to protect our only home, for generations to come.
This year’s theme highlights how human mobility drives growth, enriches societies, and helps communities connect, adapt, and support one another. This year observance gives us a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of millions of migrants around the world. It's also a day for us to highlight the increasingly complex environment in which migration occurs. Migration is a defining force of our century. Remittances to low- and middle-income countries are projected to reach a record USD 685 billion, and migrants are central to addressing labour shortages, driving innovation, and supporting demographic stability. Yet these contributions can only be maximized when migration is safe, orderly, and responsibly governed. Well-managed migration is a strategic asset: it strengthens resilience, fuels prosperity, and supports social cohesion. From documentation and skills recognition to integration and dignified return, effective systems ensure migrants can find stability, support their families, and build new futures, while helping communities adapt and thrive. Conflicts, climate-related disasters and economic pressures continue to drive millions of people from their homes in search of safety or simply opportunity. This past year, we saw record levels of internal displacement, rising humanitarian needs across ongoing and new crises, and, tragically, the highest-ever death toll of migrants in transit. Yet, alongside these challenges, are stories of resilience, progress and hope. Where safe and well-managed migration holds extraordinary potential. Migrants play critical roles in labour markets, filling skills gaps, driving innovation and entrepreneurship, and addressing demographic challenges in aging societies. Migrants boost economic growth and provide a lifeline to families and communities back home, driving development. The evidence is overwhelming that when migration is managed safely and strategically, it can be a powerful force for good. By supporting regular pathways for migration, we can enable opportunities for migrants, better protect their rights, and contribute to greater prosperity in the countries migrants come from and those that host them. Together, one step at a time, we can continue building a world where migration is safe, orderly, and beneficial – for everyone. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #InternationalMigrantsDay, #18December, #MigrantsDay, #safeMigration, #RegularMigration, #OrderlyMigration.
EVENTS: On December 18th, the UN Migration, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants and the specialized agencies will host a webinar to mark the day from the IOM Headquarter in Switzerland. Migration continues to shape economies, communities, and global development. On this International Migrants Day 2025, the International Organization for Migration calls for smarter policies, stronger cooperation, and a renewed commitment to making migration work for all. Because every migrant’s journey is a story of resilience and possibility, and because when migration is managed well, each personal story becomes part of a larger one that enriches cultures, strengthens development, and benefits us all. “My Great Story” is not only a migrant’s story—it is our shared story of building a fairer, more sustainable future through mobility. Register to participate!
Migration is a powerful driver of progress — lifting economies, connecting cultures, and benefiting countries of origin and destination alike.
Yet when migration is poorly governed or misrepresented, it can fuel hate and division, endangering the lives of people seeking safety and opportunity.
Since 2014, nearly 70,000 migrants have died or gone missing along land and sea routes, with the true number likely far higher. Borders are tightening, smugglers and traffickers are thriving, and women and children are among the most at risk.
Seven years ago, the international community adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration — an effort to maximize migration’s benefits while managing its challenges.
We can and must harness the power of migration to advance sustainable development and build more resilient societies. This starts with challenging the narratives that dehumanize migrants, and replacing them with stories of solidarity.
On this International Migrants Day, let us stand together for the rights of every migrant, and make migration dignified and safe for all.
Today, on International Migrants Day, we celebrate migration as a powerful story of resilience, connection, and shared progress. The theme — “My Great Story: Cultures and Development” — recognizes the profound ways in which human mobility shapes our world: enriching societies, sparking innovation, and advancing sustainable development when grounded in dignity and rights.
Migration has always been a force that binds the world together. Across borders and generations, the movement of people has driven cultural exchange, strengthened communities, and energized economies.
At the heart of this story are women.
Whether migrating themselves, supporting loved ones from afar, or adapting to the changes migration brings to their households, women play a vital and often invisible role. Their earnings sustain families. Their care work supports entire communities. Their leadership helps societies adapt and flourish.
Yet for too many migrant women and girls, the journey is marked by risk — not opportunity. Unsafe working conditions, discrimination, violence, and lack of legal protection continue to threaten their rights and safety. Even as they send life-changing remittances home, these contributions often come at great personal cost.
UN Women is working in partnership with governments, civil society, and migrant-led organizations around the world to uphold the rights and dignity of migrant women and girls — and to ensure their voices lead the conversation.
In Ethiopia, for example, a young woman from Tigray who survived exploitation as a domestic worker abroad returned home and began to rebuild her life. With support from UN Women’s partner, Agar Ethiopia, she accessed shelter, health care, legal aid, psychosocial support, and vocational training. Her journey toward justice and recovery shows what’s possible when services are survivor-centred and gender-responsive.
This is what it means to protect rights and unlock potential.
As we mark this day, UN Women honours the strength, leadership, and courage of migrant women and girls everywhere. Their stories are stories of hope, transformation, and global connection. Their contributions are essential — to families, communities, and the shared future we are building together.
Today we're celebrating something that touches all of us every single day, often without us even realizing it. Migration. It's in the food we share, the music that moves us. The ideas powering our businesses, our sports, our technology. People on the move shape our world quietly, beautifully, and far too often without recognition. So this year's theme, my great story, reminds us that behind every journey is a story of strength, of someone who is seeking opportunity, building a better life, supporting loved ones, or using their talent to create something new. Migration is not simply about moving from one place to another. It is fundamentally about contribution. When migration is safe and well-governed, everyone benefits. Workers fill essential roles. Students learn and innovate. Families find stability. Communities grow stronger. And achieving this means investing in systems that help people access documents, education, services, decent work for decent pay, and when they choose a dignified return home. But no country can do this alone. We need partnerships across governments, communities, the private sector, and migrants themselves. Today we celebrate migrants as builders of progress and bridges between cultures. Their stories are not stories of crisis. They are stories of possibility. So let's honor these stories. Let's work together to make sure that every person on the move can live, contribute, and thrive with dignity.
I'm America Ferrer and this is my great story. I like to think of my story as a migration story, but it's not just mine. It's a story shared by millions of people who have left home. Sometimes because they had no choice and sometimes because they saw a chance. People who took risks in the hope of a better, safer, more hopeful future. For my family, that meant leaving Honduras and starting over in a place that promised opportunity, but demanded courage and hard work in return. My mother worked tirelessly so my siblings and I could grow up believing that anything was possible. I carry their journey and their sacrifices with me today. Every challenge, every audition, every achievement felt like part of a larger path, one built on courage, determination, and hope. And today when I look back from my humble beginnings to realizing my wildest dreams, I am reminded just how beautiful our stories are. Stories of overcoming hardship, beginning again, building homes and communities, and contributing even when the odds are against us. These are the stories that connect us, inspire us, and remind us that migration is at its core a human story and one that will always live close to my heart. This is my great story. What's yours?
Through his encounters with migrants across the globe, IOM Global Goodwill Ambassador Dimash Qudaibergen shares how their strength, hope and resilience shaped his passion to stand with them and uplift their voices.
FORUM: "Let's Work together to create a supportive environment for remittances." International Day of Family Remittances 2025. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, conflict, and rising inequality, one financial flow has remained remarkably steady: the money migrants send home. On the this day we celebrate the powerful role of migrants and diaspora communities in supporting families and driving development worldwide through remittance flows. In 2024 alone, migrants sent an estimated USD 700 billion to low- and middle-income countries. These transfers now surpass official development assistance and foreign direct investment to those same countries, making remittances one of the most dependable sources of external financing. More than just lifelines, remittances enable families to meet essential needs, from food and housing to education and healthcare. They also help communities recover and rebuild, supporting job creation, small businesses, and economic resilience, especially in areas affected by conflict and displacement. Beyond their impact on families and communities back home, remittances also support host communities by stimulating local economies and strengthening social ties. Migrants provide a vital workforce for host countries, meeting labor gaps, and bolstering economic growth, creating a win-win situation. IOM works globally to expand access to financial services, promote safe and regular migration pathways, and support migrants in contributing meaningfully to both their countries of origin and destination. Despite their impact, remittance flows are often hindered by high transfer costs and limited access to financial services. IOM continues to advocate for lower transaction fees, expanded digital and financial tools, safer and regular migration pathways, and greater inclusion of diaspora communities in national development strategies. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #familyremittances, #16June, #FinancialInclusion, #DigitalRemittances.
STATEMENTS: “When migrants send money home, they are doing far more than providing for their families,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “They are building stronger communities, boosting local economies, and helping entire regions recover and grow. Remittances support children’s education, allow women to start businesses, and provide a vital cushion in times of crisis. When invested wisely, they are a powerful tool for development that benefits both countries of origin and destination.”
On December 06th, 2024, 14:00 – 16:30 UTC +7, the UNESCAP have hosted a conference at the United Nations Conference Center, Bangkok, Thailand. The observance of International Migrants Day 2024 in Asia and the Pacific is co-organized by ESCAP and the Regional United Nations Network on Migration for Asia and the Pacific. It will feature the launch of the Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2024, a comprehensive United Nations system-wide assessment of the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in Asia and the Pacific and a preview of the preparations for the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Migration, scheduled to take place at the United Nations Conference Center from 4 to 6 February 2025. The event will provide an opportunity for member States, stakeholders and United Nations entities in the region to reflect on the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration and discuss regional priorities. Get the Concept Note, the flyer and the Agenda programme!
FESTIVAL: Health for All Film Festival - In 2024, WHO will continue to celebrate the power of audiovisual storytelling for health with all those interested in public health narratives! The 5th Health for All Film Festival calls for submissions from 1 November 2023 to 31 January 2024. This year, there is a Special Migrants and Refugees Health Film Prize. We invite public health institutions from around the world, non-governmental organizations, communities, activists and students in public health, film schools, and other relevant domains to submit their original short films that shed light on the impact of migration and displacement on the physical and mental health and well-being of people on the move. Short films can also raise awareness on the rights and unique health needs of these populations, and showcase how access to health care for these populations contributes to their better health and well-being. Independent filmmakers, production companies, and TV broadcasters are also invited to participate. A multilingual social media kit with visuals is also available at the bottom of the page to further promote this call and invite submissions of short films on migrants and refugees health before 31 January 2024. For more information on how to apply, please visit the Health for All Film Festival website.
PUBLICATION: The World Migration Report 2024 reveals latest global trends and challenges in human mobility. Get the WORLD MIGRATION REPORT 2024!
On International Migrants Day, we celebrate the contributions millions of migrants make to communities, economies and countries around the world. But today is also a day to remind ourselves of the challenges migrants can face — from prejudice and discrimination, to outright violence and abuse, to the unimaginable cruelty of human trafficking. These challenges are made worse by the rising tide of mis and disinformation and hate speech which sows division and distorts the valuable contributions migrants are making each and every day. As a global community, we must summon our common humanity, and work to reverse these harmful trends. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adopted six years ago, provides concrete solutions to protect migrants at every step of their journeys and continue expanding rights-based pathways for migration. And through the recently adopted Pact for the Future, the countries of the world re-committed to strengthening international partnerships and global cooperation for safe, orderly and regular migration. Today and every day, let’s stand up for the rights of all migrants and work to create safe, humane and inclusive migration.
Today, we proudly celebrate International Migrants Day. This day gives us a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of millions of migrants around the world. It's also a day for us to highlight the increasingly complex environment in which migration occurs. Conflicts, climate-related disasters and economic pressures continue to drive millions of people from their homes in search of safety or simply opportunity. This last year, we saw record levels of internal displacement, rising humanitarian needs across ongoing and new crises, and, tragically, the highest-ever death toll of migrants in transit. Yet alongside these challenges, are stories of resilience, progress and hope. Where safe and well-managed migration holds extraordinary potential. Migrants play critical roles in labor markets, filling skills gaps, driving innovation and entrepreneurship, and addressing demographic challenges in aging societies. Migrants boost economic growth and provide a lifeline to families and communities back home, driving development. To harness this potential and meet rising humanitarian needs worldwide, IOM is launching its Global Appeal for 2025. This vital funding will support IOM programming across more than 170 countries and territories, with a goal of reaching more than 101 million people. IOM’s work will continue to focus on our three key strategic objectives:
Saving lives and protecting people on the move; Driving solutions to displacement and supporting pathways for safe, regular and orderly migration. At IOM, we're committed to maximizing the impact of every dollar – improving efficiency, partnering locally, and leveraging data to better plan and respond to evolving needs. Together, we can continue building a world where migration is safe, orderly, and beneficial – for everyone.
FORUM: “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.” World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024. This year's global campaign urges to accelerate action to end child trafficking. Children represent a significant proportion of trafficking victims worldwide, with girls being disproportionately affected. 1 in 3 victims of human trafficking globally is a child. Additionally, children are twice as likely to face violence during trafficking than adults, according to the UNODC's Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP). Regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean bear a disproportionate burden, with children making up for 60 per cent of detected trafficking victims. Amid overlapping crises such as armed conflicts, pandemics, economic hardships, and environmental challenges, children are increasingly vulnerable to trafficking. Furthermore, the proliferation of online platforms poses additional risks as children often connect to these sites without adequate safeguards. Traffickers exploit online platforms, social media, and the dark web to recruit and exploit children, utilizing technology to evade detection, reach wider audiences, and disseminate exploitative content. The causes of child trafficking are as diverse as the ways in which children are exploited. Children are subjected to various forms of trafficking, including exploitation in forced labour, criminality or begging, trafficked for illegal adoption, recruitment into armed forces, and online and sexual abuse and exploitation. Root causes are manifold, including poverty, inadequate support of unaccompanied children amidst rising migration and refugee flows, armed conflicts, dysfunctional families, and lack of parental care. Notably, in low-income countries, children are often trafficked for forced labour, whereas in high-income countries, sexual exploitation remains prevalent among child victims. Identification and protection of child victims remain challenging due to underreporting, lack of awareness, and inadequate resources for victim support services. Traffickers often employ coercion, deception, and threats to maintain control over their victims, making it difficult for authorities to intervene. To effectively combat this scourge, concerted efforts are needed at both national and international levels. States must prioritize child protection, bolster legislation, improve law enforcement, and allocate more resources to combat child trafficking. Prevention efforts should target root causes like poverty and inequality to reduce children's vulnerability. Special attention must be paid to trafficking of children on the move. Strengthening child protection systems and implementing child-sensitive justice mechanisms are crucial for supporting victims and holding perpetrators accountable. The way to address online child exploitation requires innovative strategies, collaboration between tech companies and law enforcement, and robust legal frameworks. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #endHT, #30July, #worlddayagainsttraffickinginpersons, #EndHumanTrafficking on all digital platforms. EVENTS: As we observe the 10th edition, it is crucial to address the shortcomings and accelerate action to End HumanTrafficking. On July 30th, the UNODC will celebrate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024 under the theme "Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking" as part of awareness-raising events. Civil society organizations, the private sector, and communities have a vital role in raising awareness, providing support services, and advocating for policy reforms. The UNODC Regional office and the UNODC partners will also organize many activities in cities across the countries. Get involved!
Human trafficking is a horrific crime that targets the most vulnerable in our societies.
On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we focus on the most vulnerable among us – children.
Children account for one-third of trafficking victims, suffering unspeakable abuse – whether they are forced into labour, sold off as brides, recruited as soldiers, or coerced into criminal activities. Rising inequalities and globalization have fuelled complex trafficking networks that challenge traditional legal frameworks, creating new forms of slavery. Online platforms further expose children to sexual exploitation and gender-based violence and allow traffickers to exploit victims across borders.
The physical and psychological scars of these crimes persist long into adulthood, robbing them of their innocence, futures and fundamental rights. We must strengthen protection responses – including child-sensitive justice mechanisms, raise awareness, support unaccompanied children on the move, provide care for survivors, and tackle the root causes of exploitation by helping vulnerable families.
I call upon governments, civil society, and the private sector, including tech companies, to intensify their efforts and collaboration so that no child is victimized and no trafficker goes unpunished.
On this day, let us renew our commitment for a future where every child is safe and free.
UNODC Executive Director’s Message on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 30 July 2024. Arabic | English | French | Spanish
Human trafficking leaves deep scars.
And when the victims are children, those scars can come to define the rest of their lives. This year’s theme for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons focuses on child victims, which have tripled over the past 15 years.
According to UNODC data, children account for more than a third of victims detected globally, and in some regions, they constitute the majority.
Poverty, conflict, climate change, and inadequate parental support are leaving too many children, easy prey for traffickers.
And once trafficked, they endure horrific abuse.
They are forced to work under horrendous conditions in sweatshops, on farms, and construction sites.
They are made to beg on the street, commit crime, or work as domestic servants.
They are recruited as child soldiers, while others are trafficked as they attempt to flee the shadow of war.
And many, particularly girls, face gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and forced marriage.
Meanwhile, digital technologies are enabling exploitation, with artificial intelligence generating thousands of images of child sexual abuse.
Last year, the United Nations policy forum on human trafficking, ICAT, called for united action to end child trafficking.
Now we must heed that call, by stepping up responses and working across all sectors of society, including governments, the private sector, tech companies, schools, healthcare, and social workers.
As a mother and a grandmother, I want to leave behind a world where no child is exploited, trafficked, or abused.
Let’s work together to make the world safer for all children.
