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.
   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 Malaysia Fighting trafficking a challenge in MalaysiaPENANG, 20 September 2010 (UCAN)—Malaysia is becoming a key transit point as well as destination for global human trafficking activities, a workshop learnt recently.Read more Brazil Church in Brazil strengthens commitment to preventing human trafficking, supporting victims and their familiesBRAZIL, 6 August 2010—Concerned by continuing upward trends in human trafficking, representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Brazil (CNBB), the Ministry of Justice of Brazil, community leaders, members of civil society and members of the press joined with the Church organization Sector Pastoral da Mobilidade Humana (Sector of Human Mobility) of Brazil to reaffirm their commitment to strengthen anti-human trafficking efforts, launching a new publication entitled, Confronting human trafficking.Read more Malaysia Victims of bonded labour in SabahKota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 25 June 2010 (The Star)—More than a third of the 150,000 migrants who arrive in Sabah every year are victims of bonded labour, an Indonesian non-governmental organisation said.Read more Malaysia Human trafficking victim 'sold' twiceKOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA, 25 June 2010 (Borneo Post)—It was the worst 16 days of Albert Joseph’s life. During that short period, he was ’sold’ twice and was forced to work on two jobs foreign to him.Believing that he was a victim of human trafficking, the 37-year-old disclosed that his determination to escape and luck had helped him to be reunited with family members back home.Read more  Indonesia, Malaysia Counter-trafficking efforts in South East Asia centre on raising awareness, protecting human dignityKOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA—In a press conference held with members of the Malaysian media, ICMC and Archdiocesan Human Development Committee (AHDC) representatives shared how they will be intensifying efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking, and strengthen the capacity of local organizations involved in counter-trafficking work.Read more Southern Africa Bishops: World Cup cloaks human traffickingROME, 27 May 2010 (Zenit)—Bishops of southern African nations are trying to bring global attention to the problem of human trafficking in their region.Read more  Indonesia ICMC staff honoured for dedication to anti-human trafficking workICMC South East Asia acting Country Director, Abhijit Dasgupta, has been awarded the prestigious “Glory of Bengal” award for his valuable contributions to the fight against human trafficking.Read more Belgium EU Commission strengthens the fight against trafficking in human beingsBRUSSELS, 29 March 2010 (Europa)—The European Commission today proposed new rules to step up the fight against trafficking in human beings. The new proposal will help to combat modern slavery by ensuring consistency of national rules on crimes and penalties, better assistance for victims and tougher action to prosecute criminals responsible for trafficking.Read more  Latin America ICMC Member denounces increase in abuse, criminalization of migrantsGUATEMALA CITY—Concerned by the increase in kidnappings and extortion against migrants and their families in transit, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Guatemala calls for an “end to incoherent policies,” and urges “greater progress” towards comprehensive migration policies that effectively defend the human rights of migrants and their families.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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