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18 December: what is celebrated today
18 December is a deeply human day: three observances are commemorated that speak of identity, dignity and resilience. On this day, migrants' voices are raised across the world, the richness of the Arabic language is celebrated as a cultural bridge and, in Spain, the fight against multiple sclerosis is made visible.
International Migrants Day
Proclaimed by the UN in 2000, this day — celebrated every 18 December — pays tribute to the more than 280 million migrants who now live far from home. The observance seeks to remind us that migrating is not a crime, but a human right.
The motto for International Migrants Day 2024 is “Celebrating the contributions and opportunities of migration”, a call to recognise the social, cultural and economic contribution that migrants make around the world.
Every migration story contains a mixture of hope and sacrifice. Some flee war, others hunger or climate change, but all share the desire to live safely and with dignity. Yet many face hostile borders, racism or exploitation.
The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adopted in 2018, and the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (2016) seek precisely that: to guarantee rights, protect lives and build more humane societies.
The UN reminds us that migration has shaped the history of humanity, and will continue to do so.
World Arabic Language Day
The Arabic language, one of the UN's six official languages, is commemorated every 18 December, in remembrance of the day in 1973 when it was officially recognised by the General Assembly. UNESCO established this observance in 2012 to celebrate its essential role in universal culture.
Arabic is not merely a language: it is a bridge between continents and civilisations. From medieval philosophy and astronomy to poetry and calligraphy, its legacy has influenced countless languages and disciplines.
In Spanish, for example, more than four thousand words have Arabic origins: alcalde, ojalá, almohada, azúcar, naranja, guitarra…
Each term retains a trace of that historical encounter between cultures.
Celebrating Arabic Language Day is an invitation to value linguistic diversity and protect languages as humanity's heritage.
National Multiple Sclerosis Day (Spain)
In Spain, 18 December also marks National Multiple Sclerosis Day, promoted by the Asociación Española de Esclerosis Múltiple (AEDEM-COCEMFE).
This neurodegenerative disease, which affects more than 47,000 people in the country, interrupts communication between the brain and the body, causing a wide variety of symptoms: fatigue, loss of balance, muscle stiffness or visual disturbances.
Although there is still no cure, current treatments seek to slow its progression and improve patients' quality of life. On this day, medical and family associations organise talks, solidarity walks and information campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of research and social support.