Skopje, 18 December 2021 (MIA) – Every year, December 18, is celebrated as International Migrants Day. On 18 December 1990, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Each year on December 18, the United Nations, through the UN-related agency International Organization for Migration (IOM), uses International Migrants Day to highlight the contributions made by the roughly 272 million migrants, including more than 41 million internally displaced persons, and the challenges they face. The United Nations proclamation of the International Migrants Day is an important step, offering a rallying point for all those concerned with the protection of migrants. The UN invited all UN member states, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to observe this day by disseminating information on human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, sharing experiences, and undertaking action to ensure the protection of migrants. International Migrants Day is seen as an opportunity to recognize the contributions made by millions of migrants to the economies of their host and home countries promotes respect for their basic human rights. Migration is either voluntary or forced movement as a result of the increased magnitude and frequency of disasters, economic challenges and extreme poverty or conflict. Approximately 281 million people were international migrants in the year 2020, representing approximately 3.6 per cent of the global population. The number of international migrant workers has risen globally to 169 million, an increase of three percent since 2017, as per a report by the International Labour Organisation. According to the World Bank in 2020, more than US$412 million of remittances inflows were sent to the Republic of North Macedonia, which represents 3.3% of the country's GDP. That is almost US$100 million more compared to 2019. Migrants, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), also contribute with their knowledge, established cooperation networks and acquired skills in building stronger and more resilient communities.