29 October 2008
MIGRATION: CHOICE OR NECESSITY?
As a participant in the forum Caritas Internationalis is urging governments to focus on protecting migrants and boosting development in poorer countries through the support of the Millennium Development Goals in a bid to ensure migration is a choice rather than a necessity.
Caritas Internationalis will emphasise the need to empower women in particular in a bid to reduce the numbers forced to migrate.
“Women who are searching for work abroad so they can support their families and educate their children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation if they’re not protected,” said Martina Liebsch, Caritas Internationalis advocacy coordinator for migration, trafficking and gender.
Caritas will call for the protection of women on the migration journey, education about their rights and the adoption of a gender sensitive migration policy by the international community. Caritas also highlights the need to pay special attention to the trafficking of children and young adults.