Now more than ever: Let’s Make Migrants’ Voices Heard Worldwide!

At the beginning of this month, participants in the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development focused on concerns regarding irregular migration, family unity and labour mobility and emphasized that “media play an important role in framing public opinion on migration issues”.

Similarly, the IOM states in its 2011 World Migration Report that “migrants’ voices must be heard in today’s all too often biased, polarized and negative debate on migration.”

This is exactly what Radio1812 has done since its launch back in 2006. For the sixth year in a row, radio stations from around the world will participate in the only global radio event on the occasion of International Migrants’ Day.

Close to 100 radio stations from 36 countries confirmed their participation and will broadcast special feature stories on a wide range of issues. From the concerns about the situation migrants and their families often find themselves in, to the positive examples of the successful contributions of migrants to sending as well as receiving countries.

In an interview with Radio1812, the new UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, François Crépeau, says that empowerment of migrants and the development of a credible alternative are crucial to push back xenophobic discourse.

Together with journalists as well as civil society organizations from across the world the team behind Radio1812 is working hard to make this 6^th edition a success and a building block for our continued efforts to raise awareness about migrants rights.

René Plaetevoet

Director December 18 / Radio1812