International Migrant's Day

This information is available in French, Spanish, Dutch and Italian

Why celebrating the IMD?

In 1997, Filipino and other Asian migrant organizations began celebrating and promoting the 18th December as the International Day of Solidarity with Migrants. This date was choosen because it was on 18th December 1990 that the UN adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrants Workers and Members of Their Families.

Building on this initiative, December 18 - with support from Migrant Rights International and the Steering Committee for the Global Campaign for Ratification of the International Convention on Migrants' Rights and many other organizations - began late 1999 campaigning online for the official UN designation of an International Migrant's Day, which was finally proclaimed on December 4th, 2000.

The UN proclamation of the International Migrant's Day is an important step, offering a rallying point for everyone across the world who is concerned with the protection of migrants. The UN invited all UN member states, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to observe this day by disseminating information on human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, sharing experiences, and undertaking action to ensure the protection of migrants.

But it is first of all an opportunity to recognize the contributions made by millions of migrants to the economies and well being of their host and home countries, and to promote respect for their basic human rights.

Interviews

• Myriam Horngren, Coordinator of Radio 18-12 Project, presents the Radio1812 project and highlights the key role that Community Media has in helping build dialogues between migrants and the communities that daily live with migration within sending countries, transition countries, receiving countries. Interview by Stefania Milan. Click here: Interview with Myriam Horngren
• Myriam Horngren, coordinatrice du projet Radio1812 pour December 18, est interviewée par Paris Plurielle lors du programme du 9 Decembre 2006 pour promouvoir la Journée internationale des migrants. Voir ici : http://www.americas.free.fr/#
• De Antwerpse Radio Centraal interviewde René Plaetevoet, één van de oprichters en huidig directeur van December 18, over de Internationale Migrantendag. Klik hier voor het gesprek: Interview René Plaetevoet
• Radio Canada International joined the International Migrant's Day and the Radio Marathon. Carmel Kilkenny talked among others to René Plaetevoet, the man behind Radio1812. Click here: Interview René Plaetevoet with Radio Canada
• Report about what we heard all day long on "Radio1812" combined with some comments from the "Makers of the project - concerning questions like what is the idea of Radio1812? What are your aims? Who is participating? What exactly will happen on the 18th of December? In German. To listen click here: Radio Bavaria for Radio1812
• L'émission Tam Tam du Radio Canada International a interviewé René Plaetevoet, directeur du Décembre 18 et initiateur de Radio 1812 sur les buts de son initiative. To listen click here: Interview

Press FAQ

This content is available in French, Spanish, Dutch and Italian.

What is Radio 18-12?

Radio 18-12 will be the first-ever global one-day radio show connecting migrant communities worldwide to highlight their concerns and celebrate their achievements. Kicking off with broadcasts in Australia, programming on the issue will move across time zones to reach the west coast of the Americas.

What is December 18?

December 18 is an initiative of December 18, the international advocacy and resource centre on the human rights of migrant workers. More information about December 18 on this site is available on: www.radio1812.net/about/december18.

Why Radio 18-12?

For the past six years, the international community used the 18th of December, International Migrant’s Day, to highlight the human rights of migrants. Last year, groups organised activities in over 30 countries ranging from a rally in Bangladesh to a film festival in Israel. Making migrants’ voices heard is the common thread throughout International Migrant’s Day and this is precisely what is at the heart of Radio 18-12: linking communities worldwide around the pressing and ever present issue of migrants’ rights.

What will Radio 18-12 do?

To provide extra impetus to the activities of International Migrant’s Day, Radio 18-12 encourages broadcasters and migrant organisations to:

• Contribute and share with others their existing audio material on migration to the Radio 18-12 website in the months leading up to the 18th of December.
• Provide programming and broadcasting on the 18th of December 2006, therefore contributing to the first-ever global migration broadcast marathon.
• Provide space for discussions and story telling through blogs, comments, mailing lists, etc…

Who are the people behind Radio18-12?

December 18’s offices are based in Brussels, whilst the Radio18-12 team is made up of four part-time staff and very supportive volunteers scattered around the globe. To find out more about the team behind this project, check: http://www.radio1812.net/about/the_team.

Who funds the Radio18-12 initiative?

December 18 is especially thankful for the finanacial support of UNESCO, Inter-Pares (Canada), Oxfam Novib (Netherlands), and the Flemish Minister of Culture, Youth, Sports.

How many countries will take part?

As a pilot, Radio18-12 aims to ensure a minimum of 20 countries participate in the radio marathon this year, hoping we will be able to gather more broadcasters before then. Countries already committed are the Dominican Republic, Greece, the USA, Italy, the UK, Belgium, Senegal, France, Spain, Indonesia, Guatemala and Benin.

When will Radio18-12 take place?

This global audio marathon will start on 18th December 00:00:00 Australian time and end at 23:59:59 on the West Coast of America

How to get involved?

Radio 18-12 cannot happen without you, so get involved and make sure you are part of the biggest radio show ever!

• If you are a broadcaster wanting you can contribute to the radio exchange on the website and/or take part in programming on the day please contact: radio-info at december18.net .
• If you are organising activities locally during International Migrant’s Day, we would be happy to hear about your plans, so please contact: imd at december18.net .
• If you are interested in volunteering for Radio 18-12 or December 18, please contact us at radio-info at december18.net .
  

Contact

To keep up to dates with the development of the initiatives you can register to our mailing list on: http://lists.december18.net/mailman/listinfo/radio18-12

Or you can contact us at: radio-info at december18.net / radio-info@december18.net

Should you wish to speak to anyone at December 18 for further information for interviews, media information regarding December 18 or activities local to you:

Myriam Horngren Radio18-12 Coordinator

Email: myriam.horngren@december18.net

Phone: +44 (0) 208 815 81 60 Mobile: +44 (0) 7962 06 26 98

Activities local to you please contact radio-info at december18.net

Press releases

Radio 18-12 press releases

• Radio 18/12 launches Tune in on International Migrant’s Day! - 09/11/2006

• Mary Robinson Joins Global Radio Marathon to Celebrate International Migrant’s Day on 18^th December - 11/12/2006

• Radio 18-12 welcomes further support from UN High Commissioner Louise Arbour to promote International Migrant’s Day, 18 December - 15/12/2006

• Closing Press Release: After a successful first run, Radio 1812 Marathon is now closing - 21/12/2006

Media coverage

Coverage for Radio1812

ADITAL
http://www.adital.com.br/site/noticia.asp?lang=ES&cod=25893 

Yahoo News - World - OneWorld.net
http://news.yahoo.com/s/oneworld/20061219/wl_oneworld/45361440531166546908

Altérités
http://www.alterites.com/cache/center_actualite/id_1468.php

GMANE
http://article.gmane.org/gmane.politics.activism.zpajol/19290 

Bellaciao
http://bellaciao.org/fr/article.php3?id_article=37786   

Newsletter Peacelink
http://lists.peacelink.it/africa/msg03912.html  

Activism Progressive
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/misc.activism.progressive/msg/1620f1435eac2241?dmode=source 

ISDR
http://www.ilsecolodellarete.it/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=359 

Imigrant.ro
http://www.imigrant.ro/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=ro  

Espacinsular.org
http://espacinsular.org/spip.php?article2782 

Beleven.org
http://www.beleven.org/feest/internationale_dag_van_de_migrant  

AMARC
http://evaluation.amarc.org/forum/read.php?16,205,205 

Radialistas
http://www.radialistas.net/index.php

AMISNET
http://www.amisnet.org/it/5255 

ALER
http://www.aler.org.ec/

Radio Si
http://www.radiosi.org/

Cultura en Red - Los Enrutados
http://www.culturaenred.org/losenrutados/

Altérités
http://www.alterites.com/cache/center_actualite/id_1468.php

UNESCO
http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=10349&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

AHPN
http://www.ahpn.org/activities/index.php?meeting_id=65

Uprisingradio.org
http://uprisingradio.org/home/?p=1021

Organisation d'un marathon radio à l'occasion de la Journée internationale des migrants
http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/pbnAM/cache/offonce?entryId=12419

Cbonline Australia
http://www.cbonline.org.au/index.cfm?pageId=8,86,16,251

OneWorld South East Europe
http://see.oneworld.net/article/view/143971/1/

African HIV Policy Network/ International Migrants Day
http://www.ahpn.org/activities/index.php?meeting_id=65

Mostly Water.org
http://mostlywater.org/tune_in_on_international_migrants_day

Roma Intercultura
http://www.roma-intercultura.it/?sez=Risultati&anno=2006&mese=12&giorno=18

Meltingpot.org
http://www.meltingpot.org/articolo9386.html

MMC - Cospe
http://www.mmc2000.net/continua.php?id_notizia=20 

Unimondo
http://unimondo.oneworld.net/article/view/143955/1/

Indymedia.org
http://www.indymedia.org/en/2006/12/876916.shtml  

Creative Exchange: url does not allow access

Past coverage of International Migrant's Day

Please check some external links about past editions of International Migrant's Day

http://uk.oneworld.net/guides/migration
Migration guide compiled for OneWorld UK by December 18

http://amlat.oneworld.net/article/frontpage/366/4970
Migración guía por tema de OneWorld

http://web.amnesty.org/pages/refugees-migrantsday-eng
Migrants Rights, Amnesty International

http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/events/migrants/
UN Library: International Migrant's Day

http://cpcabrisbane.org/Kasama/2000/V14n4/Migrant.htm
International Migrant’s Day, Solidarity Philippines Australia Network (SPAN)

http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cmw/intlday.htm
International Migrant's Day 2005, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/international-migrants-day.php
International Migrant's Day 2005, Human Rights Education Associates

http://www.eapn.org/code/en/news_detail.asp?pk_id_content=1732
International Migrant's Day 2005, European Anti Poverty Network

http://www.sariq.org/international_migrants_day.asp
International Migrant's Day 2005, South Asia Regional Initiative Equity Support Programme (Sariq), Bangladesh

http://unimondo.oneworld.net/article/view/124340/1/2234
International Migrant's Day 2005, Unimondo, Italy

http://www.thedailystar.net/law/2005/12/05/campaign.htm
International Migrant's Day 2005, The Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh

http://www.twc2.org.sg/cms/content/view/147/60/
Sports Carnival for International Migrants' Day 2005, Singapore

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/dec/18/yehey/career/20051218car4.html
International Migrant's Day 2005, The Manila Times, Philippines

http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991223229&Language=EN
International Migrant's Day 2005, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

http://www.migrantwatch.org/IMDRelease_MRI_18Dec2004a.htm
International Migrant's Day 2004, Migrant Rights International

http://www.apwld.org/statement_migrants.htm
International Migrant's Day 2004 , Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), Thailand

http://www.nnirr.org/dec18/statement2004.htm
International Migrant's Day 2004, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Oakland, USA

http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/18december2004.doc
International Migrant's Day 2004, Trade Union Congress, UK