[ARTICLE] Migrants and Refugees, advance our struggle for rights, justice and a world without forced migration!

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9 Days of Migrant & Refugee Activism

Summary Article

December 10-18, 2024

The International Migrants Alliance (IMA) would like to acknowledge the contributions of our members during our 9 Days of Migrant & Refugee Activism from December 10 (International Human Rights Day) to December 18 (International Migrants Day). Many IMA members from USA, Canada, Ecuador, Chile, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Middle East, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand, South Korea and Italy organised and participated in many activities.

Various actions were held to advocate for local, regional, and global campaigns to express solidarity for one another in the struggle for a better life for migrants and refugees. Some of the campaigns focused on wage increases, better working conditions, regularization, ending violence against migrant workers, access to decent healthcare, and other issues related to the welfare of migrants. One of the major campaigns led by IMA members during these 9 days is the campaign to free Mary Jane Veloso. Support for Mary Jane's return to the Philippines was expressed simultaneously through statements, marches, press conferences, prayer gatherings, and social media outreach. Thanks to our unified support, Mary Jane was transferred to the Philippines. However, the fight for her release is not over yet. It will continue until she is freed from her sentence, as Mary Jane is a victim of the Philippine labor export program and drug trafficking, not a perpetrator of a crime. Our members in countries across the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North America are continuing to advocate for absolute clemency for Mary Jane.

Online forums were also held during the 9 Days, where IMA Global and Chapters shared current issues faced by migrants, refugees, and seafarers. IMA Global held an online IMA Orientation on December 15, 2024, which was attended by over 40 participants from across the globe. The IMA Seafarers Working Group held their first webinar on December 14, 2024, discussing the exploitation faced by seafarers and how they can build solidarity across different countries. MIREDES and several IMA members in Latin America organized a series of webinars addressing the political situation and migration in Latin America. IMA Global also held a webinar on education trafficking on December 18, 2024, coinciding with International Migrants Day.

Mobilizations and actions held in the streets and outside government buildings were organized by members in Hong Kong, the Philippines, South Korea, Canada, the USA, and Australia. These mobilizations took place between December 15 and 18. IMA members, joined by local organisations and trade unions, mobilised in front of government offices and on the streets to call for fair wages for migrant workers, enforcement of human rights, an end to genocide in Palestine, the release of Mary Jane, the elimination of regulations that are not favorable to migrants, and an end to militarisation. These actions signify that the migrant movement is expanding and growing stronger. The reach of IMA members is widening, and involves all sectors of workers and communities who are victims of the neoliberal system.

IMA members in Hong Kong and Malaysia also shared their campaigns against unfair and exploitative treatments experienced by migrant domestic workers. Other IMA members released statements and solidarity messages that affirm our position as an alliance that stands on the side of migrant workers. The IMA continues to highlight the significant contributions of migrant workers worldwide, who, despite facing exploitation, violence, and injustice, relentlessly continue to fight for their rights.

In addition to the actions held throughout the 9 Days of Migrant and Refugee Activism, we must not forget to reflect on and celebrate the victories we have attained throughout 2024 and use them as inspiration to move forward together as IMA and as part of the growing global migrant movement.