Policy Building & Advocacy

ICMC’s policy building and advocacy activities form a central pillar of the work and service of the commission, promoting a positive approach to migration that embraces the human dignity of all migrants─regardless of his or her immigration status.

With strategically located offices in Brussels (ICMC Europe), Geneva (Headquarters) and Washington DC (ICMC Inc), ICMC gives voice and representation to its Members─and the migrants they serve─in a variety of critical policy debates and decision-making processes on international and regional levels.

Thanks in part to close working relationships with international institutions such as the Council of Europe, European Commission (EU), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), as well as with governments, faith-based organisations and civil society more broadly, ICMC not only amplifies the voice of the Church on migration internationally, but also serves as a knowledgeable resource on current migration-related developments for its Members, staff and partners around the world.

In particular, ICMC has continued to lead civil society efforts to reinforce the centrality of human dignity, rights and well-being with migration and development related processes, such as the Global Forum on Migration and Development. As a part of this work, ICMC launched MigrationAndDevelopment.net, an on-line point of reference and exchange for NGOs, faith-based and labour organisations, scholars and policy-makers working within the field of migration and development.

In addition to policy and advocacy activities on international levels, ICMC also engages with local authorities, government ministries and civil society to provide training and capacity building towards the improved development and implementation of national migration-related laws, policies and standards. ICMC staff supporting our on-the-ground programmes further advocate for uprooted people on a case-by-case basis, often for survivors of human trafficking and other extremely vulnerable individuals.