The objective of the conference was to combine theological, ecclesiological and pastoral reflection on the regional migration phenomenon in the Caribbean, from an ecumenical perspective.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 17, 2017 – Between November 13 and 15, 2017, in Port-au-Prince, the II Ecumenical Conference on Migration in the Caribbean was held, with the motto: SEEING OURSELVES ON THE FACE OF THE MIGRANT. Approximately 60 people from several countries of Central America and the Caribbean participated, including different religious denominations and civil society institutions.
The themes were divided from the contextualization and new conjunctures, the Churches and the pastoral of welcome and integration, the ecclesial mercy and the solidarity justice. These themes were straightened towards the pastoral practice of the churches towards the migrants from the demands of the Gospel in the face of the new challenges of migration.
SIMN participated in the first panel of the Conference, presenting the theme: Consequences of current North American migration policies, subdivided into three points: perspectives on international governance of migration, trends in North American migration policies and the consequences of current North American migration policies for the world, Latin America and the Caribbean.
“This is a historical framework for the Caribbean, because here representatives of various denominations and various civil society organizations committed to a common awareness of responding in a concrete and effective way to the challenges posed by the current restrictive measures to the international migration”, said Fr. Mario Zambiasi, the Assistant Executive Director, who represented SIMN in this Conference.
About SIMN – SIMN is supporting more than 250 Scalabrinian centers, shelters and programs that are providing lodging, food, training and employment programs; psychological and religious services; protection to victims of human trafficking and support in the integration process to migrants, refugees and seafarers in five continents. In 2016, for example, Scalabrinian Centers has supported 120,738 migrants and refugees and 172,790 seafarers around the world. SIMN is also supporting a network of schools providing education, school supplies, and food, (possibly their only meal of the day) to thousands of needy children. In addition, SIMN is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS) and from this perspective is providing research and support for regional and global policies to protect and promote the dignity and the rights of migrants and their families.