As 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, 2018
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?
- Reference to the global situation today and the fact that the Global Compact on Migration is being negotiated.
- Why migration happens and what can happen in the process.
- Who is on the move today?
- 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
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