JOINT VENTURE TOWARDS
Socio Pastoral Advocacy of the Migrants of Asia
FABC -Office of Human Development and International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)
Jointly to address the challenges of the migrants of Asia
(Bangkok, Thailand, 10-11 October, 2011)
Press release
   
In continuation of the special focus of the Asian Institute for Social Advocacy ( AISA-VIII) held in July 26-29, 2011, the Office of Human Development of the Federation of the Asian Bishops Conferences (OHD-FABC) and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) jointly taken up the initiatives towards an effective advocacy on the socio pastoral concerns of the migrants of Asia. This is in response to the proposal for a strong network and action plans with Church Based Organisations in Asia. The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is rich with with its international experience and dedicated involvement into the struggles of the poor and the marginalised migrants for so many years. The OHD has the experience of its 40 years of dedication in the 25 countries through the Episcopal Conferences of Asia.
   
   

The delegates of the Commissions for Migrants from the various Episcopal Conferences of Asia came together along with four Bishops of Asia to find out the ways and means of social advocacy and pastoral ministries to the migrants. They had the following proposals that would be carried out in the various Conferences in Asia.

In their special addresses, Archbishop Louis of Bangkok and Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon (OHD-FABC) highlighted on the growing human Rights exploitations of the migrants in the world. Mr. Johan Ketelers, the ICMC General Secretary spoke of the multidimentional challenges the migrants of Asia undergo every day in spite of their contribution to the economic growth of the world.

Bishop Precioso Cantillas and Bishop Joseph Phbul spelt out the need to respond to this enormous problems through the FABC and national level Commissions and Episcopal Conferences to effectively address the challenges of these marginalised people.

As a result of the group reflection, the Asia Working Group (AWG) was created to work with specific details and to come out with tangible results in protecting and fulfilling the Rights and welfare of Migrants of Asia. The Group elected Bishop Precioso Cantillas as the Chairman and Fr. Eliseo Napiere as the secretary of the AWG.

The central focus of this joint venture of OHD and ICMC in Asia would be to propagate, promote, protect and fulfil the Rights and entitlements of the migrants of and from Asia through socio pastoral advocacy through the Episcopal Conferences and Church Based Organisations and reliable NGOs.

Even though there are various types issues of migration like people on the streets, domestic migrations, Human Trafficking etc. labour migration has been specially chosen under priority for immediate attention with the following action plans:

1. Protecting migrant workers in the existing gaps (Human Rights and Rehabs, educations, health, social welfare), informing and alerting bishops' Conferences and providing them with guidelines on this protection

2. Bridging the socio/cultural/legal gaps between sending and receiving countries

3. Playing a mediating role and engaging in social advocacy

4. Developing pre-departure and post-arrival guidance/assistance

5. Becoming more pro-active in labour migration in terms of social analysis, strategies, planning and implementation

6. Preventing victimisation of migrant workers in Asia by organising some structures in deployment and employment

7. Promoting for the ratification of international conventions and other Human Rights instruments related to migrants

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