“Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay”. Celebrating the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on 24 September 2023, Caritas Internationalis makes its own the title of Pope Francis’ message for this Day.
On the one hand, the right to stay in one’s own country means that social, working and human development conditions are guaranteed for people in their places of origin. However, people are often forced to leave due to persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations. Forced displacement has dramatically increased over the last decades. According to UNHCR’s Global Trends Report 2023, over 108 million people were forcibly uprooted from their homes by the end of 2022. Unfortunately, “the right to stay” has not yet been codified in national legislation. Many examples illustrate the extent to which it is disregarded.
Copyright Lefteris Partsalis, Caritas Switzerland
On the other hand, the right to migrate means that everyone is ready to understand, empathise with and support those who choose to migrate. This World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023 is an opportunity to rethink our unsustainable development models and build a new architecture of peace. The international community recognizes three durable solutions for refugees: local integration, resettlement to a third country, and return and reintegration in the land of origin. Complementary pathways and family reunification can also expand third-country resettlement options.
Durable solutions enable refugees and IDPs to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. The Caritas Confederation offers many examples of successful projects to support people in choosing to stay or migrate. To show them and mark the occasion of the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Caritas Internationalis, RED CLAMOR (Latin American and Caribbean Ecclesial Network on Migration, Displacement, Refuge and Human Trafficking) and RAEMH (Africa-Europe Network for Human Mobility) organise on 19 September at 13 O’Clock (CEST) the virtual event Durable Solutions to Cross-Border Displacement. You can follow the online conference by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daYZcDC9I0g
Programme
Words of Welcome
- Mr. Alistair Chad Dutton
Secretary General, Caritas Internationalis
Speakers
- Mr. Alberto Negri (Journalist)
Major challenges of protracted and forgotten crises
- Ms. Ana de Vega (Senior Durable Solutions Officer, UNHCR Italy)
Working for durable solutions
- Mr. Oliviero Forti, (Head of Migration Policy and International Protection, Caritas Italiana)
Enhancing regular pathways, resettlements and complementary pathways
- Fr. Florencio María Rigoni CS (Scalabrinian Congregation, Colombia) &
- Mr. Gaby Daw (Advocacy Officer, Caritas Jordan)
Refugee integration in local contexts
- Ms. Marie Lobjoy (International Advocacy Officer, Secours Catholique Caritas France)
The protection gap in environmental displacement
- Ms. Parul Sharma (Migration and Reintegration Lead, Caritas India) & Ms. Agnès Seck (Caritas Senegal)
Voluntary repatriation and smooth reintegration of returnees
- Ms. Floriana Polito (Advocacy Officer Human Rights & Humanitarian Policy, Caritas Internationalis) &
- Mr. Elvy Monzant (Executive Secretary, RED CLAMOR)
Contributing to the Global Refugee Forum process
Cover picture: Caritas Austria: Michaela Sieger and Jan Schulz-Weiling.