Caritas is joining other Christian organisations to call for international laws providing human rights for migrants.

Policy makers and civil society representatives meet for the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Athens 2-5 November.

Caritas Internationalis is the confederation of 165 national Catholic charities. Caritas Internationalis has joined other Christian organizations in urging for greater protection for migrants and their families under International Labour Organization (ILO) and other UN conventions.

Caritas Internationalis Coordinator for Migration and Trafficking Martina Liebsch said, “Countries of departure, transit and destination must work together to secure migrants’ residence status, social and labour rights, property rights, safety, and respect for their physical and psychological integrity.

“Special attention should be given to reverse the growing trend towards stigmatisation and even criminalisation of migrants.

“Migration should be an option and not a necessity. Policy on migration must also link up with efforts that are forcing people to migrate because of poverty, climate change and conflict.

“We need to look at key measures like flexible visa regimes with multi-entry permits, matching grants for remittances, and micro-credit programmes.

“Put the right to life before the right to control borders. Shameful practices over the past year concerning the interception of migrants at sea have to be stopped. The duty of any person is to save lives, which are in danger. Persons living up to their human duty of assisting others must not be criminalised.

“A growing proportion of the migrant population are women and they form a specifically vulnerable group that the Athens meeting needs to address. A key concern is migrant domestic workers. Women who migrate generally pay a high price. Migration policies should be developed that prevent trafficking and exploitation.”

Caritas Internationalis and its partner organisations are looking forward to the next Global Forum in Mexico and hopes for an improved process leading up to the Forum and a full day of discussions between civil society and governments.

Read the statement in English

Further information: Caritas Internationalis, Martina Liebsch, tel: +39 (0)6 69.87.97.19