fr
es

The first EU Resettlement Skills Share Day

Launch of the EU Resettlement Network website and 2020 Refugee Resettlement Campaign

BRUSSELS, 10 May 2012—The newly adopted Joint EU Resettlement Programme now offers European countries possibilities to make a significant contribution to global resettlement. In order to expand and strengthen resettlement in Europe, three leading international organisations in the field of migration and refugees – IOM, ICMC and UNHCR – are working together on a project called ‘Linking-In in EU Resettlement’. As part of this project, the first EU Resettlement Skills Share Day takes place on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 May in Brussels.Read more

GFMD Civil Society Days

Civil Society publishes Final Report of the GFMD Civil Society Days 2011

The Final Report of the GFMD Civil Society Days 2011 Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) is now available. The Final Report provides an overview of the activities and outcomes of the GFMD CSD 2011, including a summary of the opening plenary, all working sessions, the final civil society statement presented to the governments in their opening plenary, the Common Space with governments and a set of 17 recommendations made by civil society.Read more

Welcome Europe!

New EU Resettlement Programme offers safe haven and new start for refugees

BRUSSELS, 29 March 2012—With the European Parliament vote on March 29th, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) congratulates the European Union on adopting a formal framework for welcoming refugees in need of resettlement to Europe, and expressing its commitment to human rights, refugee protection and solidarity with those most in need.Read more

Resettlement of unaccompanied children from Tunisia to Norway

GENEVA, 17 January 2012—On Sunday, 33 unaccompanied children departed from Tunisia's Shousha refugee camp to Norway as part of their resettlement process.The children were among 90 who arrived unaccompanied from Libya during 2011. Some were already without parents when they first arrived in Libya; others lost their parents or became separated from them subsequently. Most are from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, or Eritrea.Read more

A joint IOM, UNHCR and ICMC project: Linking in EU Resettlement

BRUSSELS, 16 December 2011—A second IOM UNHCR ICMC project to further strengthen expertise in resettlement in Europe - under the name "Linking in EU Resettlement" - started in September 2011 and will run until the end of 2012. The project covers all phases of the resettlement process, particularly networking in the reception and integration of resettled refugees.Read more

See and protect

ICMC publishes study of legal obligations and responses to boat people arriving across the Mediterranean and North Atlantic

BRUSSELS, 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

ICMC Resettlement Deployee

Among the Asylum Seekers

Refugees arrive at our offices early. Often a line starts forming by 5:30 a.m. There are Sudanese men with the parallel scars of manhood etched on their foreheads, Ethiopian women draped in white scarves, and Somalis floating by in their red and black hijabs trailing the scent of eucalyptus in their wake. They tote their food for the day in plastic containers and thermoses, knowing the wait may be long. Here is the story.Read more

A regional conference of the 'DRIVE' project

Regional conference to put mixed migration expertise center stage

BRUSSELS, 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

Eritrean family leaves Tunisia border camp for new life in Belgium

CHOUCHA CAMP, Tunisia, 20 July 2011 (UNHCR)—Filmon was born in Eritrea and says his heart is there, that he never dreamed nor wished to be far removed from his country. Yet this week he and his family boarded a plane and headed for a new life over 5,000 kilometres away.Read more

Leaving limbo: Refugees look to resettlement with hope for a long-term solution

Having fled their homes in fear of persecution, thousands of refugees in Africa and elsewhere are living in crowded camps without any likely possibility for local integration or voluntary return to their home communities. Many have been living in limbo for upwards of 20 years.

ICMC deployees working alongside refugees in UNHCR field offices worldwide are striving to see that resettlement remains a practical solution for restoring dignity and hope to those have have suffered extreme hardship and violence.Read more

Welcome Europe!

New EU Resettlement Programme offers safe haven and new start for refugees

BRUSSELS, 29 March 2012—With the European Parliament vote on March 29th, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) congratulates the European Union on adopting a formal framework for welcoming refugees in need of resettlement to Europe, and expressing its commitment to human rights, refugee protection and solidarity with those most in need.Read more

See and protect

ICMC publishes study of legal obligations and responses to boat people arriving across the Mediterranean and North Atlantic

BRUSSELS, 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 Migration

GENEVA, 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 migration

GENEVA, 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 table

GENEVA, 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 Days

GENEVA, 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 staff

GENEVA, 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 Day

TURKEY, 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 Europe

BRUSSELS, 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