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Trafficking

ICMC Press Release for 06 September 2001:

Intervention by the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) at the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
Durban, South Africa, 31 August - 7 September 2001

Mariette Grange, Former ICMC Advocacy Officer, made the following statement on 6 September 2001:

The International Catholic Migration Commission was founded in 1951 by the Catholic Church to serve migrants and refugees. Since then ICMC has evolved its original mandate to include internally displaced persons. ICMC assists the extremely vulnerable among the forcibly displaced especially the frail and unaccompanied elderly, unaccompanied minors, female heads of household, physically and mentally disabled, minorities, women at risk, and the severely traumatized.

ICMC participated actively in the preparatory process for this Conference as it recognizes racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as one of the compelling root causes of forced displacement. Furthermore, forcibly displaced persons are increasingly the object of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance in all regions of the world in places where they have sought refuge and hoped to have a new life in safety and in dignity.

ICMC recognizes the inherent dignity of each individual and upholds the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all human beings.

We are encouraged by the broad visibility given in the final documents of the Conference to the plight of all migrants around the world including migrant workers and trafficked persons specially women and children. We therefore call on the 172 States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families to do so. We recommend that States recognize the acute need for protection of the rights of undocumented migrants.

Paradoxically, in this 50th year of the adoption of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, on this fifth day of the Conference, we observe with concern the serious difficulties amongst participating states in reaching consensus on the clear link between the themes of the Conference and the fate of one in every 120 persons in the world who is forcibly displaced. We affirm that this Conference should uphold the centrality of the 1951 Refugee Convention (ratified by 141 States) and the 1967 Protocol and existing international norms and standards for the protection of refugees and should settle for nothing less. South Africa is offering to us the concept of ubuntu, the humanity that is to be found in each of us. Will States recognize the ubuntu of refugees in this Conference?

Concerning internally displaced persons, the Conference should recommend the application of the Guiding Principles for Internal Displacement.

But words alone cannot change the lives of real people. This time, the 3rd World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance must include an integrated follow-up mechanism. It should put together information received from States, Treaty Bodies, thematic mechanisms, relevant UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, national human rights commissions, non-governmental organizations, other sectors of civil society and all other interested stakeholders. Data thus collected should be compiled and analyzed for use by relevant UN bodies and all interested parties for monitoring progress in the implementation of the Declaration and Program of Action. In order for this mechanism to be effective clear, measurable, and time-bound goals and objectives must be included in the final documents of this Conference.