The government must not return the migrants who arrived in Malta this morning to Libya. There are two very good reasons why: the first is that the migrants will be subjected to torture and inhumane treatment if returned. And the second is that such an action would be a blatant violation of our international legal obligations.Read more<
The Permanent Mission of the Holy See in Geneva, Caritas Internationalis, the International Catholic Migration Commission, and Jesuit Refugee Service jointly present for your consideration and action the attached document "Welcoming the Stranger: Affirmations for Faith Leaders."
The resulting document consists of 16 pledges to be made by Leaders of Faith Communities regarding the duty of their respective religious traditions to welcome the stranger. The second section of the document constitutes a brief listing of religious principles that support this common understanding and demonstrate why religious leaders can adhere to and share the pledges. Simply put, the reason is that the affirmations are common to all and that each religious tradition demands such a response from its adherents.Read more<
(Reuters) - An Australian navy vessel came to the aid of a suspected asylum seeker boat in distress south of Indonesia on Friday, as leaders of the two countries met to discuss refugees, one of the key issues in Australia's upcoming general election.
The boat, around 42 nautical miles south of Java, had requested assistance and been spotted by a customs surveillance aircraft, Australian Customs and Border Protection said.Read more<
On New Year’s Day, Mohammad Hashim left Rakhine state in western Myanmar with only the clothes on his back and a small pack of food and water. He knew the journey would be dangerous and exhausting, but the 18-year-old stateless Rohingya Muslim felt it was his duty as the eldest child to find work in Malaysia.Read more<
Immigrants dying at sea, in boats which were vehicles of hope and became vehicles of death. That is how the headlines put it. When I first heard of this tragedy a few weeks ago, and realized that it happens all too frequently, it has constantly come back to me like a painful thorn in my heart. So I felt that I had to come here today, to pray and to offer a sign of my closeness, but also to challenge our consciences lest this tragedy be repeated. Please, let it not be repeated! First, however, I want to say a word of heartfelt gratitude and encouragement to you, the people of Lampedusa and Linosa, and to the various associations, volunteers and security personnel who continue to attend to the needs of people journeying towards a better future. You are so few, and yet you offer an example of solidarity! Thank you! I also thank Archbishop Francesco Montenegro for all his help, his efforts and his close pastoral care. I offer a cordial greeting to Mayor Giusi Nicolini: thank you so much for what you have done and are doing. I also think with affection of those Muslim immigrants who this evening begin the fast of Ramadan, which I trust will bear abundant spiritual fruit. The Church is at your side as you seek a more dignified life for yourselves and your families. To all of you: o’scià!Read more<
GENEVA, 8 July 2013 (ICMC) - Pope Francis today visits the Italian island of Lampedusa to bring attention to the “global indifference” to the plight of the many migrants lost at sea trying to reach Europe through one of its primary entry points from Africa.
"Adam, where are you?”, the Pope asked in his homily. "Who is responsible for the blood of these brothers and sisters? No one! We all respond this way: not me, it has nothing to do with me, there are others, certainly not me."Read more<
GENEVA (ICMC), 5 July, 2013 – Governance of migration will be more effective in contributing to human security and development if it focuses on applying international human-rights instruments, the International Catholic Migration Commission said before the fourth International Forum on Migration and Peace in New York City on 20-21 June.Read more<
Canada has made an initial commitment to resettle up to 1,300 Syrian refugees this year and next Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.Read more<
On June 19 and June 21, two groups of Camp Hurriya residents, 27 in total, were permanently relocated to Albania. This was the third of a series of movements planned under the terms of a generous humanitarian offer by the Government of Albania to accept 210 individuals from Camp Hurriya. The United States thanks Albania for its compassion in this humanitarian endeavor. So far, 71 individuals have relocated to Albania as part of this agreement, and we look forward to additional individuals relocating as soon as possible.Read more<
The 43rd General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), which is taking place in Antigua, Guatemala, today adopted the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination, and Related Forms of Intolerance and the Inter-American Convention against All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance and opened them for signature.Read more<
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