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Africans seek protection for migrating kids

MANILA, 24 February 2010 (The Inquirer)—With increasing cross-border movement of unaccompanied minors, 15 African countries are threshing out ways to strengthen cooperation for the protection of children at risk, at a three-day UN-backed meeting beginning Tuesday in Pretoria, South Africa, the UN office here said in a news release.Read more

Haiti

Catholic service agencies call for rigorous safeguards in protecting Haitian children

WASHINGTON, 4 February 2010 (USCCB)—In a letter to three Cabinet secretaries February 4th, the heads of five major Catholic agencies serving Haitian earthquake victims outlined steps that should be taken to ensure the protection of unaccompanied Haitian children in the aftermath of the January 12th earthquake.Read more

ICMC Member

US Conference of Catholic Bishops presents recommendations for Zimbabwean refugees

WASHINGTON, 20 January 2010 (USCCB)—Migration and Refugee Services has released a summary report of the USCCB delegation’s visit to South Africa and Zimbabwe, during which they explored a series of refugee crises in the region.

 

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United States

Catholics must combat ‘shadow industry’ of human trafficking, Archbishop Vlazny says

PORTLAND, 15 January 2010 (CNA)—Human trafficking is a “shadow industry” and an example of slavery’s persistence, Archbishop of Portland, Oregon John Vlazny has said. Discussing how Catholics can help combat the crime, he recommended former slave St. Josephine Bakhita as a patroness for its victims.Read more

Philippines

Family, food, money cause women OFWs stress

MANILA, 17 November 2009 (Inquirer)—Family expectations, money, relationship with employers, and food and religious beliefs in host country are five of the most common causes of stress among women overseas Filipino workers.Read more

Netherlands

Police nab smugglers who brought 2,000 into EU

AMSTERDAM, 17 November 2009 (Reuters)—Police across Europe arrested 22 people on Tuesday on suspicion of smuggling some 2,000 immigrants into the European Union, mainly from Iraq, law enforcement organisation Europol said.Read more

The Vatican

Slavery: Hidden crime of the 21st century

VATICAN CITY, 10 November 2009 (UCAN)—Migrants and refugees face unimaginable horrors when they meet people who are out of touch with their own humanity, Augustinian Father John Murray, who works with migrants in Thailand, writes from the Sixth World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and RefugeesRead more

Australia

Australia puts its refugee problem on a remote island, behind razor wire

CHRISTMAS ISLAND, 4 November 2009 (NYTimes)—Deep in the jungle on this small island lost in the Indian Ocean, Australia’s new $370 million refugee detention center reaches its full power after its lights come on at dusk. Bracketed by rain forest, steep cliffs and the sea, it rises from the enveloping darkness and becomes visible from the island’s only inhabited corner, about 10 miles away.Read more

Australia

Twelve Sri Lankans lost in asylum sea tragedy

SYDNEY, 3 November 2009 (The Australian)—A dozen Sri Lankan asylum-seekers are feared dead after their vessel capsized in heavy seas as they sailed direct from Sri Lanka, apparently in an attempt to avoid the Rudd government's "Indonesian solution".Read more

Timisoara

ICMC, Working Group on Resettlement meet in Timisoara

TIMISOARA, 11 March 2010—ICMC joins governments, UNHCR and twelve other NGOs for targeted discussions towards strengthening and enhancing common efforts on refugee resettlement during the annual meeting of the Working Group on Resettlement.Read more

ICMC Pakistan

Families displaced by landslide receive essential aid

ISLAMABAD, 17 February 2010—Following days of torrential rains, ICMC and the Strengthening Participatory Organization reach out to families affected by massive landslides that caused four Northern Pakistani villages to slide into a nearby lake, causing serious damage to hundreds of homes and businesses.Read more

Haiti

Catholic service agencies call for rigorous safeguards in protecting Haitian children

WASHINGTON, 4 February 2010 (USCCB)—In a letter to three Cabinet secretaries February 4th, the heads of five major Catholic agencies serving Haitian earthquake victims outlined steps that should be taken to ensure the protection of unaccompanied Haitian children in the aftermath of the January 12th earthquake.Read more

ICMC Europe

Hazel Williams appointed ICMC Resettlement Coordinator

BRUSSELS, 1 February 2010—The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is pleased to welcome Ms. Hazel Williams to the ICMC Europe office in Brussels, Belgium as Resettlement Coordinator, where she will work in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to strengthen the engagement of European Union Member States in refugee resettlement.Read more

European refugee resettlement

ICMC Europe undertakes new project with IOM, UNHCR

BRUSSELS, 1 March 2010—ICMC Europe joins forces with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), launching a new project on refugee resettlement in Europe 8-9 March in Timisoara, Romania.Read more

ICMC Governing Committee

Church leaders share vision on migration at 109th meeting of the ICMC Governing Committee

VIENNA, 23 January 2010—High-level Church leaders gathered in Vienna discuss global approaches to migration and appeal for solidarity with Haiti at the 109th meeting of the International Catholic Migration Commission Governing Committee.Read more

Haiti earthquake

Haiti: ICMC applauds solidarity, highlights role of migrants in post-disaster recovery

GENEVA, 15 January 2010—In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti Tuesday, ICMC joins with its member bishop’s conferences worldwide in expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims and their families, and the essential role that Haitian migrants can play in the country’s recovery.Read more

International Migrants Day

Sense and solidarity on migrant rights: Formulas for efficiency and fairness, especially for children

GENEVA, 18 December 2009—Practical and humane solutions are within reach for governments and all people, combining good sense with solidarity in how societies respond to men, women and children who migrate to and from other countries.Read more

Taiwan

Taiwan: Church calls attention to plight of migrant domestic workers

TAIWAN, 13 December 2009—Spearheaded by the Migrants’ Empowerment Network in Taiwan (MENT), Church-based organizations and local NGOs in Asia call attention to the plight of domestic workers and caregivers in Taiwan with a public rally and statement.Read more

International Migrants Day

Launch of 20th anniversary Global Campaign for the Migrant Rights Convention

GENEVA, 9 December 2009—A global campaign to challenge countries to end abuse of migrants by protecting their human rights will be launched around the world on 18 December.Read more