Rome, 17 November 2016 – On the occasion of Universal Children’s Day on November 20th, we echo Pope Francis’ appeal “to adopt every possible measure to guarantee the protection and safety of child migrants.” In this time of epic human displacement, “children constitute the most vulnerable group, because as they face the life ahead of them, they are invisible and voiceless”. 

According to a recent report by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one in every 200 children in the world is growing up as a refugee. Of the world’s 31 million children living outside their countries of birth, 11 million are forcibly displaced.  Continue reading Wider Protection for Migrant and Refugee Children →

“The outcome document that will be considered by member states in the High Level Summit falls short of creating a new framework for the protection of refugees and migrants around the world.” That is the thought expressed, already at the beginning of August, by the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) together with the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS). Their goal is that the “High Level Summit on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants”, planned by the United Nations in New York on September 19, and related meetings called by the United States on the same sideline, on September 20, can give concrete answers to the delicate subject.

Fr. Alessandro Gazzola, Superior General of the Scalabrinian Congregation, expresses the same concern for some specific points in the document: “Given the refugee and migrant crisis around the globe, we were hopeful that the outcome document would more explicitly detail a plan for responsibility sharing in response to migration flows.  We stand ready to work with member states to give life to the document, whereby a more concrete plan of action is created and implemented.”  Continue reading Scalabrinians on the front line on the “High-level Meeting on Large Movements of Refugees & Migrants” New York – United Nations Headquarters, September 19, 2016 →