Vatican seeks 'serious' international cooperation for migrants
MANILA, Philippines — The Vatican is calling on governments for serious international cooperation to ensure humane conditions of migration, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said Wednesday.
An article on the CBCP website (www.cbcpnews.com) said the call came from Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers secretary Archbishop Agostino Marchetto.
"Special attention must be given to avoid discrimination and to protect vulnerable migrants such as women, unaccompanied minors, elderly and disabled persons," Marchetto said.
He first made the call at last week's 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
Marchetto appealed to the governments to continue working to "create conditions where migration will never be the only option left to persons in order to find job and a safe and dignified life."
He urged governments to create more opportunities for work so that families are not torn apart.
"In this situation those who suffer most are children who often grow up without parents and are obliged to take upon themselves heavy responsibilities," the archbishop lamented.
Marchetto said migrants often risk their lives in search for a better life for themselves and for their families.
These incidents, he said, are symptomatic of the sad reality many migrants face today in their quest for a job and for a living wage.
But this suffering has to stop, he said.
He said that for conditions of migration to be safe, more secure and more humane, cooperation among states is necessary.
Marchetto added migrants can only contribute to genuine development if their situation is humane, which implies the right to family reunification.
"How can migrants, men or women, possibly contribute their best to genuine development if their situation is not humane?" he asked.
He also recalled the words of Pope Benedict XVI in the address he delivered to the United Nations last April 18.
"The future will be built on human rights.' We are speaking of a fundamental nucleus of values, hence of rights, but also of duties and responsibilities, including the need to promote human dignity and justice without imposing either cultural relativism or cultural imperialism, and with full acceptance of the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity," Marchetto quoted the Pope as saying.
"Any form of temporary and circular migration should never be taken as a pretext for avoiding full respect of migrants' rights, and specifically their right to family reunification, their right to the recognition of their contribution to development both by their work and by means of their savings sent home. Failings in this area would point to a lack of integration and cooperation policies in host countries, as well as of national development policies in the countries of origin," he added. -GMANews.TV
An article on the CBCP website (www.cbcpnews.com) said the call came from Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers secretary Archbishop Agostino Marchetto.
"Special attention must be given to avoid discrimination and to protect vulnerable migrants such as women, unaccompanied minors, elderly and disabled persons," Marchetto said.
He first made the call at last week's 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
Marchetto appealed to the governments to continue working to "create conditions where migration will never be the only option left to persons in order to find job and a safe and dignified life."
He urged governments to create more opportunities for work so that families are not torn apart.
"In this situation those who suffer most are children who often grow up without parents and are obliged to take upon themselves heavy responsibilities," the archbishop lamented.
Marchetto said migrants often risk their lives in search for a better life for themselves and for their families.
These incidents, he said, are symptomatic of the sad reality many migrants face today in their quest for a job and for a living wage.
But this suffering has to stop, he said.
He said that for conditions of migration to be safe, more secure and more humane, cooperation among states is necessary.
Marchetto added migrants can only contribute to genuine development if their situation is humane, which implies the right to family reunification.
"How can migrants, men or women, possibly contribute their best to genuine development if their situation is not humane?" he asked.
He also recalled the words of Pope Benedict XVI in the address he delivered to the United Nations last April 18.
"The future will be built on human rights.' We are speaking of a fundamental nucleus of values, hence of rights, but also of duties and responsibilities, including the need to promote human dignity and justice without imposing either cultural relativism or cultural imperialism, and with full acceptance of the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity," Marchetto quoted the Pope as saying.
"Any form of temporary and circular migration should never be taken as a pretext for avoiding full respect of migrants' rights, and specifically their right to family reunification, their right to the recognition of their contribution to development both by their work and by means of their savings sent home. Failings in this area would point to a lack of integration and cooperation policies in host countries, as well as of national development policies in the countries of origin," he added. -GMANews.TV
Comments