Every year on 18th December, the UN asks the world to mark International Migrants Day, a day set aside to recognize the important contribution of migrants while highlighting the challenges they face.
This is something which has come to hold a near permanent place in the politics of many countries, especially those HICs which are often perceived as the main destination for international migrants. However, “85% of the world’s refugees live in low and middle-income countries (LICs and MICs). Nearly half of all migration flows are intra-regional, between LICs and MICs. Yet the disparity between data and analysis available on public attitudes towards refugees and other migrants in high-income countries (HICs) versus MICs, and LICs in particular, is stark.” (Leach & Hargrave, ODI)
As an international migrant myself and as a child of migrants, I feel it is paramount that progressive attitudes to migration are pushed to overcome the narrow views that currently dominate, usually with the nasty taint of racism and xenophobia.
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.