Translated with AI
International Migrants Day was celebrated on December 18. In 2025, its theme is "My contribution to culture and development matters," highlighting the importance of human mobility as a key driver of progress, strengthening economies and ties between communities, according to the UN press service.
In his message, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted that migration is a powerful engine of economic growth and cultural ties, benefiting both the countries of origin and the host countries. Migrants help fill labor shortages, spur innovation, and support demographic resilience in various countries. Remittances to low- and middle-income countries are projected to reach a record $685 billion in 2025.
Guterres emphasized that this contribution can only be realized through safe, orderly, and responsible migration management. Misregulation or distorted public perceptions of migration can fuel division and hatred, putting the lives of people seeking safety and opportunity at risk.
Effective migration policies enable migrants to achieve stability, support their families, and build a new future, while host communities can maintain social and economic resilience.
The UN Secretary-General noted that since 2014, nearly 70,000 migrants have died or gone missing along land and sea routes, although the actual figures are likely higher. Tightened border controls and the activities of smugglers particularly affect the most vulnerable migrants, including women and children.
He recalled that seven years ago, the international community adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, which aims to harness the benefits of migration and reduce the risks associated with it.
"We can and must harness the potential of migration to advance sustainable development and build more resilient societies. The first step is challenging ideological narratives that dehumanize migrants and replacing them with narratives of solidarity," António Guterres emphasized.
On International Migrants Day, the UN calls for the protection of the rights of every migrant and for joint efforts to ensure that all resettlement processes take place in dignity and safety.
