Juba, South Sudan-Today, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in South Sudan in collaboration with the government, civil society, the academia and migrants’ community association joins the global community in commemorating International Migrants Day. This year’s theme, “Honouring the Contributions of Migrants and Respecting Their Rights highlights the critical role migrants play in shaping resilient societies while emphasizing the need for inclusive policies that uphold their rights and dignity.

The event, held in Juba, celebrated the invaluable contributions of migrants to South Sudan’s social, cultural, and economic development while underscoring the importance of safe, orderly, and dignified migration. As part of commemoration, at the University of Juba, key stakeholders gathered to reflect on the challenges faced by migrants and displaced persons and the need to advocate for policies that promote inclusion and protection.

In his opening remarks, IOM South Sudan Head of Operations, Muhammad Asar, highlighted the resilience of migrants and their critical role in South Sudan’s reconstruction and development. “Migrants bring diversity, innovation, and skills that enrich societies. Today, we honour their contributions and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring their rights and dignity are upheld,” he said.

“Migration comes with good benefits. For instance, in South Sudan, remittance sent by the diaspora has contributed to the economy of the country.” said Prof Robert Mayom, Vice Chancellor University of Juba.” “As stakeholders, we need to advocate for better and safe migration pathways that accord migrants their respect and dignity.” He added.

According to World Migration Report, South Sudan remains one of the most complex migration landscapes globally. With decades of conflict, the country has also witnessed increased migration due to conflict, climate change, and economic opportunities in the region. Additionally, as a source, transit, and destination country, South Sudan’s migration dynamics are further complicated by irregular migration and human trafficking, given its location along major migration routes such as the Southern route from Ethiopia and the Northern route to Libya. To address these, IOM and its partners continue to work together in ensuring immediate needs for the vulnerable migrants are meet while advocate for better migration management in the country.

The 2024 International Migrants Day celebration has been made possible through financial support from the European Union and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

For more information, please contact Cyprine Cheptepkeny on email: ccheptepkeny@iom.int  or Nabie Loyce in IOM South Sudan; email: nloyce@iom.int , Tell: +211 912380115