In a historic move, the United Nations General Assembly has formally observed the first-ever International Day against Colonialism in All its Forms and Manifestations. This new annual observance, held on December 19, 2025, serves as a powerful reminder that the global struggle for true self-determination and equality is far from over, even as it celebrates the immense economic contributions of migrant communities worldwide.
The Unfinished Legacy of Decolonization
The Day was established to bolster the implementation of the UN’s foundational Declarations on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, adopted 65 years ago. Since that declaration, the UN has facilitated the self-determination of over 60 territories, transforming the lives of more than 80 million people who emerged as citizens of independent states.
However, as UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Elizabeth Spehar, stated on behalf of the Secretary-General, “that legacy is unfinished.” Today, 17 non-self-governing territories remain on the UN list, from Gibraltar to Guam. More insidiously, Spehar highlighted how “vestiges of colonialism persist – not only on maps, but in the architecture of global power.”
This critique points directly to institutions like the UN Security Council—with its permanent, veto-wielding members—and the international financial system, which Spehar described as bearing “the imprint of a world that no longer exists – a world of empires, not of equals.” The Day thus calls for a dual mission: not only addressing the formal political structures of colonialism but also dismantling the entrenched economic and diplomatic inequalities it bequeathed.
A Stark Contrast: Migrants as Economic Pillars
In a poignant and related development, the UN marked the same week as International Migrants Day by releasing a groundbreaking report that quantifies the immense value migrants bring to their host societies. The report, from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), offers a powerful counter-narrative to xenophobic rhetoric.
Focusing on Venezuelans displaced across Latin America and the Caribbean, the research reveals they contribute a staggering $10.6 billion annually to local economies. This is not through abstract “cultural enrichment” but through concrete, daily spending on essentials: food, education, and healthcare. This spending supports local businesses, creates jobs, and fuels economic activity.
The findings, based on research in eight host countries including Colombia, Panama, and Chile, go further. Venezuelan migrants are also significant taxpayers, contributing just over one percent of total tax revenue in these nations. In Colombia alone, their annual tax contribution exceeded $529 million—funds that directly support public services and infrastructure used by all citizens.
The Global Context: Record Displacement and a Path Forward
These contributions occur against a backdrop of unprecedented global movement. With over 300 million international migrants worldwide, migration is a defining feature of our century. Yet, as UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted in his message, the environment for migrants is increasingly perilous. “This past year saw record levels of internal displacement, rising humanitarian needs… and, tragically, the highest-ever death toll of migrants in transit.” Drivers include conflict, climate disasters, and economic desperation.
The twin observances create a compelling narrative arc. They connect the historical injustice of imposed borders and subjugation (colonialism) with the modern reality of people crossing borders in search of safety and dignity (migration). The solution, as Guterres advocates, lies in “supporting regular pathways for migration,” which can unlock human potential, protect rights, and generate shared prosperity for countries of origin and host nations alike.
Ultimately, the first International Day Against Colonialism does more than commemorate the past; it frames a contemporary imperative. It argues that building a just, equitable world requires both reckoning with the enduring power structures of empire and recognizing the agency and value of those who move across the globe it shaped.
