Since 2000, the international community has designated 18th of December as International Migrants Day, to celebrate the achievements and highlight the struggles of migrant workers around the world.

Last year, to promote the celebrations, December 18, the international advocacy and resource centre on the human rights of migrant workers launched
Radio 1812, a global radio event where community stations, commercial radios and national and international broadcasters from Australia to Peru produced
and broadcasted more than 50 programmes on one day (1).

This year, the aim was to bring on board more radios to produce more programmes from more countries during International Migrants Day. The December 18 team is delighted to announce that so far more than 60 radios around the world will join together in the celebrations and that their programmes will be aired during the day and then shared on the Radio 1812 website (www.radio1812.net)(2). New countries to have come on board this year include Spain, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bosnia Herzegovina and Austria. A programme schedule is available on the site and is being updated hourly with the latest information from participants from around the world. A calendar of celebrations, conferences, demonstrations and other activities taking place around the world to celebrate 18th December, IMD 1812, is also available on the site.

Additionally, December 18 welcomes the support of MEP Jean Lambert through her generous contribution of a thoughtful and engaging op-ed piece. The author looks back on the developments of EU migration and integration policies over the past 12 months and reflects on the challenges that lie ahead for the migrants, the receiving countries and the UE as a whole. The op-ed will be available in English, French and Spanish from 14th December 2007 on www.radio1812.net.

René Plaetevoet, Director of December 18, says: “It is absolutely wonderful to see the enthusiasm and energy around the Radio 1812/2007 project and International Migrants Day. At a time when the lives of the most vulnerable people are threatened by the erosion of human rights around the world, 18th December and this collective action on air and through the net should remind everyone that belief in the international framework based on the respect of the dignity of the human being is not dead.”

The Radio 1812/2007 Global Audio Event will start in Indonesia and end on the west coast of the Americas. By gathering broadcast programmes on migration issues throughout the time zones and by providing on-demand audio streaming and exchange platforms, the event aims to give life and impetus to the voices of migrants throughout the world.

For more information please see the radio1812 website at: www.radio1812.net

You can also register for the Radio1812 mailing list by contacting
radio1812@december18.net

CONTACTS:
For any media queries: Myriam Horngren at myriam.horngren@december18.net,
Phone: +33 (0)4 68 29 48 67 / Mobile: +33 (0)6 42 78 27 01/ +44 (0) 7962
062698 or radio1812@december18.net

NOTES FOR EDITORS: The mission of DECEMBER 18 is to promote and protect the rights of migrants worldwide. Our goal is that the human rights of all migrants are recognised and protected effectively, and that an environment is created for migrants to be full participants in any society. We promote an approach to migration policies that is based on existing international and regional human rights instruments and mechanisms.

1) Overall 53 Radios from 27 countries took part in the pilot edition of Radio 1812 in 2006
2) Figures valid as per date