Fernando Medina, Head of Mission of IOM Colombia.
Photo: El Espectador – José Vargas
Today is a very special day for IOM as we celebrate International Migrants Day. The aim of this commemoration is to promote solidarity with domestic and international migrants and to promote policies and practices that ensure fair and dignified treatment without distinction of origin, nationality, ethnicity, gender or religion.
It is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of building inclusive societies that recognize and value cultural diversity, as well as the contributions that well-managed human mobility processes can bring as a result of the participation of all stakeholders: governments at national and territorial levels, Cooperation, civil society in general, private sector, academia and of course migrants and host communities.
📝 We recommend: Is Trump's immigration policy returning? This would be Biden's unexpected turn
Let me speak in the first person. I have been a migrant for more than 20 years… and not only my personal experience but also the work I have done has allowed me to verify that the impact if migration is carried out in a safe, orderly and regular manner The way people's rights are handled can be significantly restricted.
For this reason, we have also launched the “Kilometers of Dreams” campaign in Colombia, a communication initiative that addresses the feeling of human mobility and invites us to reflect on the lessons that forced movements leave us, whether within the country or beyond its limits. These are people who immigrate with a desire for dignity, security and, in many cases, peace.
This campaign is based on several community reflections developed last month with more than 700 participants from different cities and municipalities in the departments of Norte de Santander, Antioquia, Nariño, Tolima, Risaralda, Sucre, Bolívar and Boyacá, as well as Bogotá. Using the “Tree of Life” methodology, participants shared experiences showing interaction and integration between international and internal migrants and host communities.
📌 You may be interested in: The Jungle and the Beast (Part One)
I would like to mention that the commemoration of International Migrants Day is an opportunity for the IOM to thank the full support we have received throughout the year from our partners, who have provided us with their technical and financial contributions to the launch of the mandate enable the organization in Colombia. Without a doubt, addressing human mobility requires a multi-stakeholder response; and what you will see next is a reflection of a shared achievement.
That is why I would like to invite you to continue to work together to strengthen the power of migration to create economic prosperity and the progress of societies that welcome migrants. Let us remember that migration drives development, strengthens communities, promotes innovation and stimulates creativity.
And as a final message: Let's think about tomorrow and act now… to leave no one behind.
*Head of the IOM Mission in Colombia.
📰 We also recommend: Colombia will play a key role in the world's largest refugee gathering
👀🌎📄 Have you already heard the latest news from the world? We invite you to see them in El Espectador.