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.
   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  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 Spain Spain's salad growers are modern-day slaves, say charities7 February 2011 (The Guardian)—The exploitation of tens of thousands of migrants used to grow salad vegetables for British supermarkets has been uncovered by a Guardian investigation into the €2bn-a-year (£1.6bn) hothouse industry in southern Spain.Read more Human Rights Day MEPs join NGOs in urging Member States to tackle health inequalities in access to health care for undocumented children and womenBRUSSELS, 9 December 2010—Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from across the political spectrum were recently confronted with evidence of substantial inequalities in access to healthcare across the EU. A Public Hearing held on 8 December in Brussels highlighted how undocumented migrants—especially undocumented pregnant women and children – are threatened by both legislative and practical barriers when trying to access healthcare.Read more Philippines Migrants’ Sunday observance highlights Church’s concern for OFWsMANILA, 19 February 2010 (CBCP News)─The Catholic Church will again pay tribute to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in national celebration on 21 February, in an effort to make society understand and appreciate more the sacrifices OFWs endured to provide their families a decent life.Read more Sri Lanka Church finds ways to help vulnerable migrantsTEWATTA, 7 December 2009 (UCAN)—Sri Lanka can thank its migrant workers for more than a third of its foreign exchange, however many have experienced severe physical abuse while abroad, says a nun.Read more India Migrant workers fill labour supply gapsPANAJI, 1 December 2009 (IANS)—Governments adopting protectionist immigration policies only end up deepening the negative impact of the economic crisis, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said Tuesday, saying migrant workers from countries like India fill labour supply gaps that cannot be met by the local workforce.
Netherlands Why labour migrants are good for the NetherlandsHILVERSUM, 25 November 2009 (RNW)—Choose whether or not you want to be Dutch, that’s the credo of Minister of Integration Eberhard van der Laan. But with this emphasis on the Netherlands and the Dutch language, Mr Van der Laan is closing the door on a temporary migration policy. That, say various experts, is bad for the Dutch economy.Read more International Organization for Migration Holy See speaks on need to better address irregular migrationGENEVA, 25 November 2009—Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi speaks before the 98th session of the International Organisation for Migration Council, calling for new attention to the horrific phenomenon of 'gauntlet migration', and analysis of forced, or survival, migration and migration that is genuinely voluntary.Read more Malta A newspaper for immigrantsVALLETTA, 23 November 2009 (Times of Malta)—The Peace Lab in Ħal Far is issuing a newspaper for immigrants with the aim of strengthening ties between them and Maltese society, director Fr Dionysius Mintoff said.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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