Summary: Information / Discussion

The role of migrants and refugees in international cooperation and development

Version française

Time:		18 July 2002, 18:00 - 19:30
Location:		ICCG 4
Moderator(s):		• Ms. Beth Ferris, World Council of Churches (WCC)
Presenters/ Participants:		• Ms. Christine Bloch, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) • Ms. Geneviève Gencianos, Migrants Rights International • Mr. John Berger • Mr. Henri Cardona, Collectif Sans Papier • Mr. Serge Ducrocq, Collectif Sans Papier
Reporter:		Vilay Luang (ICVolunteers)
Language:		English, French
Key words:		Human rights, immigrants, convention, ratification, collective

The theme of immigration and migrants remains a current topic and requires the co-operation of various social and governmental actors to arrive at a satisfactory solution.

Ms. Beth Ferris, of the World Council of Churches, opened the meeting by introducing the four parts of this session: the personal experience of Henri Cardona, the "Collectif de Soutien des Sans-papiers", the ratification of the Convention of the Rights of Migrants, and finally the globalization of the human rights campaign.

Henri Cardona, from Latin America, stated that his case is not unique and also concerns people from Asia and Africa. He works hard and late hours, his family life is in jeopardy and, above all, he is living in fear. He is not asking for the moon, he said, but for the right and the dignity to work in peace. He talked about women compelled to work as cleaning ladies instead of being allowed to use their education and skills as teachers, lawyers or even policewomen. Finally, he said, paperless migrants must overcome their fear and have the courage to speak about their situation.

Serge Ducrocq, social worker, said he regrets that only representatives of civil society are defending and working on the "Collectif de Soutien des Sans-papiers" because the presence of legal or illegal migrants is necessary to help the cause. The role of migrants is important in the local economy, especially in the restaurant business. The Collectif is both a new and an old experience as it involves the co-ordination of several organizations such as churches, unions, political parties and paperless migrants. The objective is to regularize the situation of illegal immigrants through social assistance, access to health care, education and professional training.

Ms. Geneviève Gencianos, representative of Migrants Rights International (MRI), mentioned the objectives of her NGO and talked about a strategy that supports the cause of migrants. MRI strives for the recognition of migrants' rights with the co-operation of various partners and government agencies. Regardless of the causes for immigration (employment or a better standard of living), the rights of migrants must be recognized in order to avoid cases of abuse or exploitation. Since 1990, several countries have signed the Convention and 19 countries have ratified it. This is encouraging for the pursuit of MIR's mandate.

Ms. Christine Bloch of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) talked about the distinction between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), which works more at the governmental level. Ms. Bloch explained that the UNHCHR plays a leading role in influencing governments in their decisions concerning human rights at the national and regional levels. JRS has carried out research programmes in the UK, Germany and Spain, whose results are used in debates between governmental authorities on the rights of peoples.

Interesting questions
Are migrants who have demonstrated in the open subjected to police investigations? What can be done to avoid reprisals? Mr. Dubocq's only answer to these questions is that the involvement of the migrants themselves is necessary to help their own cause, as they are the main actors and without them the Collectif de Soutien has no reason to exist.
A pertinent question was raised about migrants living with HIV and the case of Taiwan, where migrants suffering from AIDS are refused entry.

Conclusions
In conclusion, the debates are a long way from being closed. In order for the rights of migrants to be recognized, it is necessary to involve social and governmental agencies at all levels and to exchange information. This should lead to a globalization campaign through the ratification of the UN convention by the majority of countries.

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