[Radio1812_english] Radio 1812/2007 welcomes the participation over sixty radios from around the world to International Migrants Day!

[myriam horngren]

Brussels 13 December 2007 

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 at december18.net 

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


Myriam Horngren
December 18 
Coordinator Radio 1812/2007
Landline: +33 (0) 4 68 29 48 67 
Mobile: +33 (0) 6 42 78 27 01
UK Mobile: +44 (0) 7962 062698 
web: www.radio1812.net / www.december18.net
Tune in on International Migrant's Day! (18 December 2007)