By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager
This week’s “Embracing Faith” article will focus on Embracing Faith through Advocacy.
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” -Romans 13:10
Throughout the world, there are neighborhoods full of people with diverse backgrounds, many of them being migrants and refugees, who play an active role in their respective communities.
In 2005, the Global Commission on International Migration reported that the number of international migrants was about 200 million. (1)
Nearly 15 years later, that number has skyrocketed, and, recently, there has been much debate about immigration reform all over the world.
Regardless of one’s feelings towards this topic, it is important to recognize that people migrate to different regions throughout countries due to safety concerns, living conditions, demographic issues, and economic opportunities.
In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly chose to recognize the ever-increasing amount of migrants throughout the world by designating December 18th as International Migrants Day. (1)
Since it was first recognized as a global observance, International Migrants Day has helped raise awareness about migration, human rights, refugees, as well as other issues that migrants consistently face.
This year, the theme of International Migrants Day is #WeTogether, and the United Nations hopes to continue to raise awareness about the 272 million migrants across the world with this message:
“We learn together, create together, work together, sing, dance, and play together. We live together. That is the meaning of International Migrants Day and its message. The International Organization of Migration salutes migrants and the communities, which they join and remake through mutual effort. We salute and support them. We pledge to make the future we believe is arriving for all of us.” (2)