The International Catholic Migration Commission
serves and protects uprooted people: refugees, internally
displaced persons and migrants, regardless of faith, ethnicity or nationality.
serves and protects uprooted people: refugees, internally
displaced persons and migrants, regardless of faith, ethnicity or nationality.
    See and protect ICMC publishes study of legal obligations and responses to boat people arriving across the Mediterranean and North AtlanticBRUSSELS, 8 December 2011—ICMC today launches its new publication "MAYDAY! Strengthening responses of assistance and protection to boat people and other migrants arriving in Southern Europe". The publication sheds light on gaps in responding to boat people and other migrants arriving in Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain. "It is not so much the arrivals of migrants and refugees that should be put to question, but rather the response mechanisms," observes Johan Ketelers, Secretary General of ICMC.Read more 62nd Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR Holy See calls for the protection of refugees and the safeguard of their human dignityGENEVA, 13 October 2011—Speaking at the 62nd Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR on 4 October, the Holy See points out areas of concern with regard to the protection of victims of forced displacement and the safeguard of their human dignity.Read more  A regional conference of the 'DRIVE' project Regional conference to put mixed migration expertise center stageBRUSSELS, 19 September 2011—This Wednesday, the major actors and stakeholders engaged in responding to boat arrivals and mixed migration flows in the Mediterranean will gather in Brussels for the closing conference of the DRIVE project, organized by ICMC.Read more UN Human Rights Council Holy See speaks on need to stop human trafficking and to protect its victimsGENEVA, 14 September 2011—Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi speaks before the 18th Session of the Human Rights Council, calling for laws and conventions to prioritize the prevention of human trafficking, to protect its victims and to strengthen the prosecution of traffickers.Read more Catholic groups and partners call for ratification of ILO Convention on Domestic WorkersGENEVA, 21 June 2011—“After adoption, ratification!” was the call of over 70 NGOs and labour groups from 5 continents, including domestic workers themselves, at a conference hosted by the International Catholic Centre of Geneva on June 3rd and 4th, 2011.Read more International Labour Conference Holy See draws attention to drivers of innovation and progress at ILO conferenceGENEVA, 8 June 2011—Congratulating the ILO for its "steadfast service" to social development on the ocassion of the 100th session of the International Labour Conference, H.E. Silvano Tomasi notes the sizeable challenges resulting from a "financial crisis of unprecedented depth" and calls for explicit attention to the social and economic impacts of youth unemployment, employment conditions for women and the protection of domestic workers.Read more  A regional workshop to exchange practices and expertise Responding to boat arrivals and mixed migration flows in the MediterraneanSICILY, 10 May 2011—Lending a particular sense of urgency to the issues at hand, nearly one thousand migrants arrived at the island of Lampedusa last week as policy makers, public service providers and local practitioners from eight European countries gathered in Catania, Italy for an experts workshop on practical responses to boat arrivals and mixed migration flows in the Mediterranean.Read more  Global Forum on Migration and Development 2011 ICMC to take leading role in coordination of Civil SocietyGENEVA, 27 April 2011⎯Under a new format intended to boost interaction with States and drive action on issues that affect the world’s 215 million international migrants, their families, and countries to and from which they migrate, ICMC has accepted the invitation to organize civil society activities connected to this year’s Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).Read more Council of Europe Europe must make migration policies more humaneSTRASBOURG, 14 April 11 (CoE)⎯As illustrated by the current crisis in North Africa, Europe needs to establish more humane migration management and improve the treatment reserved for migrants. The European Union and the Council of Europe should co-operate more closely on this, ensuring that any EU policy abides fully by human rights standards”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, in presenting the conclusions of the seminar on the human rights dimensions of migration in Europe organised in Istanbul on 17-18 February.Read more UNHCR calls on States to uphold principles of rescue-at-sea and burden sharingGENEVA, 8 APRIL 2011 (UNHCR)—In light of the massive loss of life in the Mediterranean this week in a refugee boat capsizing, UNHCR is calling on the European Union (EU) to urgently put into place more reliable and effective mechanisms for rescue-at-sea.Read more
See and protect ICMC publishes study of legal obligations and responses to boat people arriving across the Mediterranean and North AtlanticBRUSSELS, 8 December 2011—ICMC today launches its new publication "MAYDAY! Strengthening responses of assistance and protection to boat people and other migrants arriving in Southern Europe". The publication sheds light on gaps in responding to boat people and other migrants arriving in Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain. "It is not so much the arrivals of migrants and refugees that should be put to question, but rather the response mechanisms," observes Johan Ketelers, Secretary General of ICMC.Read more Global Forum on Migration and Development 2011 Civil Society Urges Governments to Fill Leadership Gaps in MigrationGENEVA, 2 December 2011—The Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development concluded with high energy at the “common space” between civil society and governments on the morning of December 1st. After two days of working sessions that built upon the recommendations of past GFMDs and brought to light new concerns, civil society presented a statement to governments calling for more engagement and leadership to combat xenophobia and promote rights-based migration policies. The statement was followed by a debate on demographics, development and positive alternatives to irregular migration, moderated by BBC correspondent Zeinab Badawi with over 700 participants present.Read more Global Forum on Migration and Development 2011 Civil society groups worldwide to meet with governments on migrationGENEVA, 9 November 2011—Civil society representatives from over 60 countries will convene in Geneva to propose rights-based migration policies to governments at the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) to be held from November 29th to December 2nd. 180 delegates will meet for two days to formulate recommendations on labour migration, which they will present to governments from some 130 countries on December 1st.Read more Global Forum on Migration and Development 2011 Civil society delegates set to bring wide panorama of expertise to the GFMD tableGENEVA, 14 October 2011—Addressing issues including irregular migration, the rights, contribution and challenges of migrant workers and their families, the role of migrants abroad in the development of their countries of origin, job creation “at home” and other alternatives to migration, 180 civil society actors will be bringing their on-the-ground experience to high-level discussions with governments at this year’s Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).Read more Unveiling of new website brings invitation to apply now for GFMD Civil Society DaysGENEVA, 19 August 2011—In the countdown to the 2011 Global Forum on Migration and Development, a new website providing broad information about the GFMD has been launched, together with the invitation for civil society representatives to apply now to participate directly in the 2011 Civil Society Days.Read more Global Forum on Migration and Development 2011 GFMD 2011: Support for Civil Society receives boost with appointment of new programme staffGENEVA, 4 July 2011—The International Catholic Migration Commission is pleased to welcome Ms. Wies Maas, Senior Programme Officer, and Mr. Andrés Morales, GFMD Programme Officer, to its Geneva headquarters, in support of Civil Society activities related to the 2011 Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).Read more  Turkey: Governor’s welcome offers refugees a refreshing reprieve on World Refugee DayTURKEY, 20 June 2011—Rarely able to travel far beyond their host city of Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, nearly 200 refugees relished the opportunity to gather at the 26th of August Natural Park for a festive day of food, games and children’s crafts some 20 kilometers outside of the town centre, in celebration of World Refugee Day.Read more  "Paving the way": New handbook provides ‘rich inspiration’ for refugee resettlement in EuropeBRUSSELS, 7 June 2011—Joined by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Catholic Migration Commission launched today a new handbook for policy makers and local practitioners working in the area of refugee reception and integration.Read more  Ethiopian Bishops to UN: “The crying voices of migrants in the Sinai are getting louder and louder at our doors”GENEVA, 6 June 2011—Ethiopian Bishops’ Conference Secretary General and ICMC member, Abba Hagos Hayish, made a plea to governments, international organizations and civil society representatives gathered at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, calling for action on behalf of the hundreds of migrants kidnapped and held hostage for ransom in the Sinai desert.Read more  ICMC salutes the “spirit of ‘51”: Organizing mobility, then and nowGENEVA, 5 June 2011—Sixty years ago today, in times of epic post-war displacement and emigration from Europe to the Americas, lay people and clergy from Italy, Germany and the United States joined the future Pope Paul VI and Cardinal Joseph Frings of Germany in calling for the creation of a new, international Catholic commission to support refugees and migrants ‘with special care and unremitting aid’.Read more
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