Victim of child trafficking, a part of photo exhibition at the symposium against child trafficking in Paris

Credits: Schwebel/Secours Catholique

Caritas will urge governments to focus on protecting migrants and boosting development in poorer countries through the support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in a bid to decrease forced migration at the Global Forum on Migration in Manila.

The Global Forum, which takes place from 27-30 October, will focus on the theme of “Empowering Migrants for Development”.

During the Manila meeting Caritas Internationalis will emphasise the need to empower women in particular in a bid to reduce the numbers forced to migrate.

“Women who are searching for work abroad so they can support their families and educate their children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation if they’re not protected,” said Martina Liebsch, Caritas Internationalis advocacy coordinator for migration, trafficking and gender.

Caritas will call for the protection of women on the migration journey, education about their rights and the adoption of a gender sensitive migration policy by the international community. Caritas also highlights the need to pay special attention to the trafficking of children and young adults.

People in developing countries across the world frequently use migration as a livelihood and income diversification strategy, but the costs of the journey and the life abroad may lead to more poverty and insecurity rather than improved living conditions.

“The right to not be compelled to migrate should be an essential element in any discussion on migration,” said Ms. Liebsch.

On a broader level, Caritas will urge for the voices of migrants to be heard and empowered through dialogue. It is also calling for legal and safe channels for labour migration to help people avoid exploitation and hardship.

A Caritas-organised conference for 2010 will look at the social costs of female migration on relationships, families and societies.

Read our full statement here (French, Spanish)

Martina Liebsch, Caritas Internationalis advocacy coordinator for migration, trafficking and gender, will be at the Global Forum on Migration in Manila. For more information, please contact: Tel: +39 06 698 797 19/+ 39 334 35 90 814