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.
    International Day for Disaster Reduction Children and young people in the spotlight of Disaster Risk ReductionGENEVA, 13 October 2011- In support of the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR), ICMC welcomes the global initiative to raise awareness about what can be done to reduce the exposure to disasters, and to promote the inclusion of children and young people in disaster prevention and mitigation processes.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  Pakistan: Displaced Afghans recount personal experiences of hardship while looking to the futurePAKISTAN, 20 June 2011—Having survived war, hardship and insecurity in Afghanistan, refugees whose lives were again touched by disaster in the wake of last year’s flooding in Pakistan gather in a rural Pashtun village to share their experiences and perspectives on the future on the occasion of World Refugee Day 2011.Read more Pakistan Caritas Pakistan President says more help is needed after floods27 January 2011 (Caritas)—Bishop Joseph Coutts, President of Caritas Pakistan, talks about the challenges Caritas faces in Pakistan six months after the country was devastated by extensive floods.Read more UN: More than 13 million children internally displaced worldwidePAKISTAN, 5 November 2010 (United Nations)—The United Nations says more than 27 million people are displaced within more than 50 countries around the world as a result of armed conflicts. At least half this group—more than 13 million—are children. The world body is introducing guidelines to help governments and humanitarian agencies protect and provide for this group's special needs.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 Pakistan Vatican appreciates Pakistan's roleISLAMABAD, 15 September 2010 (The Nation)—On the second day of his visit to Italy, Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti Tuesday met with Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Dominique Mamberti and Cardinal Jean Louis, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, TheNation has learnt.Read more  Pakistan Pakistan flood survivor: "I have nothing but my family"ISLAMABAD, 24 August 2010—As flood waters continue to cover acres of land in Pakistan, ICMC makes an urgent appeal to donors to support the organisation’s front-line response to the medical needs of thousands of families in flood-affected areas. An estimated 18 million people have been affected by Pakistan’s most recent natural disaster, and the sheer scale of the catastrophe has been described by United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon as “almost defying comprehension.” “This is far more than a disaster for Pakistan alone,” he said earlier this week, “this represents one of the greatest tests of global solidarity in our time.”Read more Malaysia Hundreds of Indonesian workers face executionJAKARTA, 27 August 2010—Indonesian Church spokesmen and a group of NGOs have criticized the government over its apparent lack of concern for hundreds of imprisoned migrant workers who face the death penalty in Malaysia.Read more Pakistan floods Ban Ki Moon: Pakistan needs our help, now18 August 2010 (NY Times)—Standing under leaden skies in Pakistan last Sunday, I saw a sea of suffering. Flood waters have washed away thousands of towns and villages. Roads, bridges and homes in every province of the country have been destroyed.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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