World Refugee Day – June 20; Journée mondiale des réfugiés 20 juin; Día Mundial de los Refugiados, 20 de junio 20

World Refugee Day 2018

On this World Refugee Day, as people of faith and of conscience, the Good Shepherd International Justice Peace Office strongly condemns the United States’ policy reversing protections for asylum seekers fleeing domestic abuse and gang violence, and the “zero tolerance” policy that has resulted in the inhumane and deliberate separation of immigrant children and parents at the United States border. We call for an immediate end to these cruel and immoral policies, which have an especially harmful impact on migrant women and children. In the face of such egregious mistreatment of the most vulnerable seeking refuge in the United States, we cannot remain silent.  Read more … Statement on the Separation of Immigrant Children from Parents at the US Border

Día Mundial de los Refugiados 2018

En este Día Mundial de los Refugiados, como gente de fe y de conciencia, la Oficina Internacional Justicia y Paz del Buen Pastor condena enérgicamente la política de los Estados Unidos de revocar la protección para los solicitantes de asilo que huyen del abuso doméstico y de la violencia de pandillas, y la política de “tolerancia cero” que ha resultado en la separación inhumana y deliberada de hijos y padres inmigrantes en la frontera de los Estados Unidos. Pedimos poner fin inmediatamente a estas políticas crueles e inmorales, las cuales afectan de un modo particularmente pernicioso a las mujeres migrantes y a sus hijos. No podemos quedarnos calladas ante tan indignante maltrato a los solicitantes de refugio más vulnerables en los Estados Unidos.  Lee mas … Declaración sobre la Separación de Niños Inmigrantes de sus Padres en la Frontera Estadounidense

Journée mondiale du réfugié 2018

En cette Journée mondiale du réfugié, le Bureau Justice et Paix International du Bon Pasteur condamne fermement la politique américaine qui inverse la protection des demandeurs d’asile fuyant la violence domestique et la violence des gangs, ainsi que la politique de « tolérance zéro » qui en découle, séparant de manière inhumaine et délibérée des enfants migrants et leurs parents à la frontière des États-Unis. Nous appelons à stopper immédiatement ces politiques cruelles et immorales, qui ont un impact particulièrement néfaste sur les femmes et les enfants migrants. Face à ces mauvais traitements flagrants à l’égard des personnes les plus vulnérables qui cherchent refuge aux États-Unis, nous ne pouvons pas rester silencieux. Lire la suite…  Déclaration sur la séparation des enfants immigrants de leurs parents à la frontière américaine

See Good Shepherd Position Papers

Position Papers 2018    Documentos de Posición 2018     Prises de Position 2018

Position Paper on Migration and the UN Global Compact on Migration …

Position-Slidshow-banner3As the updated Position Papers of the congregation are launched negotiations of the 5the week of the Global Compact on Migration have just finished – May 4 – 8, 2018Cecilie Profile

We must pay tribute to our excellent colleague and NGO Main Representative to the United Nations – Cecilie Kern – our migration expert – for keeping abreast of the negotiation, supporting in ever way possible the NGO Committee on Migration in their tracking and contributing  to the enhancement the negotiations to ensure the human rights of each and every migrant.  Her dedication and passion in this cause are unrivaled. Here is a Copy of the document start of negotiations on June 4.    Cecilia has provided an update on the current position as we moved into the week of June 4th negotiations. Read more here ETW GCM

 

The Papers are available in all three languages Spanish Documentos de Posición 2018  French Prises de Position 2018  and English Position Papers 2018

This work did not begin today or yesterday but has been ongoing since the year long negotiation leading up to the New York Declarations on Refugees and Migrants in September 2016 – a year after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including the Sustainable Development Goals.  The New York Declaration give rise to the work on the Global Compacts and here we are on the road to Morocco (10 and 11 December 2018) when the Global Compact will be adopted.  See More about the Conference  It will be preceded by the Global Forum on Migration which Good Shepherd have been engaged in over the years – with regresentatives coming from the Philippines, Malaysia and the GSIJPO in New York.

 

See New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants   Available in Spanish and French.  What is in the position paper on Migration?

  1. Reference to the global situation today and the fact that the Global Compact on Migration is being negotiated.
  2. Why migration happens and what can happen in the process.
  3. Who is on the move today?
  4. Here is our main point of advocacy
  • all persons, regardless of migratory status are rights holders.’
  • protection of migrants is a moral imperative
  • upholding the integrity of the family 
  • ensuring the rights of the child and of spouses
  • avoid criminalization of the migrant 
  • implement human rights and labour rights 
  • no to xenophobia 

5.  Welcome the stranger – recognize and honor difference – listen – accompany – provide services

6.   Critical to responding

  •  cross border OLCGS projects – share with us in the comments box what you are doing.
  • know your local, national and regional reality
  • educate on human rights
  • be gender sensitive
  • focus on long term solutions
  • advocate – human rights, family unity,  no to detention of children, due process
  • address systems and structures that discriminate
  • seeks universal social protection floor policy
  • highlight the need for ‘protection’
  • oppose efforts to restrict migration
  • speak abut the failure to address political , social and economic inequalities

Be eager to see the final edition of the Global Compact on Migration which we expect after the 6th round of intergovernmental negotiation to be held in New York July 9th – 13th, 2018

Make links with the Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13, 16 and 17

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Document available in 6 UN Languages

The Mission of the Holy See to the UN hosted a side event on June 4 entitled ‘The Protection and Integration of Migrants in Vulnerable Situations.’   This could be a title for our position paper on Migration.  See   Goal:  “to facilitate a reflection and discussion on the main challenges and responses for the protection and integration of migrants in vulnerable situations, especially the selected target groups of women and girls, and families, and the selected target areas of health care and dignified work.”    Read the Holy See reflection on the side event Side Event

Prayer the prayer for June … a prayer for migrants and refugees.  English    Espanol  and Francais