A march for migrants’ rights takes place on the sidelines of the IMRF in New York. Photo: LOWC/Raghunath
An LWF delegation at the International Migration Review Forum highlights urgent need to uphold human dignity
(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) joined ecumenical, interfaith and other civil society partners at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) to reaffirm the human rights of migrants and to demand strengthened protection for the most vulnerable people on the move. At the conclusion of the meeting, held at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, participants defined priorities including labor rights, ensuring legal identity for migrants and tackling the root causes of mass displacement.
A delegation including staff from the LWF Communion Office, from the Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) and from member churches in Colombia, El Salvador and the United States took part in the 5 to 8 May forum. In a joint civil society declaration issued on the closing day, participants reaffirmed “the critical importance of multilateralism” and pledged to continue working for the implementation of the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2018.
The declaration highlights “a stark and deeply concerning lack of tangible progress” toward that goal and points, instead, to “a severe global regression in the human and labor rights of migrants.” Noting a “widening chasm between diplomatic rhetoric” and “the harsh, punitive realities of state practice,” participants decried the fact that “governments themselves fuel narratives of division, spreading racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance within communities."
Migration cannot only be about border security, but it must also be about human dignity.
Johanna Morales, coordinator of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia’s migrant pastoral office
“Migration cannot only be about border security, but it must also be about human dignity,” said Johanna Morales, coordinator of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia’s migrant pastoral office, during a side event organized by the LWF in partnership with other ecumenical and interfaith organizations. Speaking at the panel event entitled ‘Power of interfaith solidarity for migrants’ rights, protection and justice in times of crisis’, she talked about the “complex scenario” in northern Colombia, where hundreds of thousands of people seek to cross the Darién gap dividing south and central America.
“There has been an increase in restrictive policies,” Morales noted, along with increased violations of the rights of migrants. She spoke of the urgent need “to strengthen comprehensive protection systems,” especially for the elderly, for children and young people and for those who are survivors of gender-based violence.” Churches are often the first places of welcome and listening to the stories of migrants, she said, providing practical humanitarian assistance, alongside psychosocial support.
Rev. Sonia Skupch, LWF Regional Secretary for Latin America, the Caribbean and North America. Photo: LOWC/Raghunath
Members of the LWF delegation at the UN headquarters in New York. Photo: LOWC/Raghunath
Johanna Morales, coordinator of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia’s migrant pastoral office. Photo: LOWC/Raghunath
Churches can also reach remote parts of the territory where others cannot sustain a presence, Morales continued, “but as faith-based organizations, we cannot replace or substitute the state and other international organizations.” There is a need to strengthen accountable public systems to promote sustainable policies and guarantee the dignity of migrants who bring hope to their host communities,” she added.
Faith-based organizations are key partners, but not substitutes, for a coherent whole-of-society response to migrant support, integration and inclusion. Access to rights should not depend on the existence of solidary organizations. It should be guaranteed directly by accountable public systems."
For Rev. Sonia Skupch, LWF Regional Secretary for Latin America, the Caribbean and North America, the forum marked a vital opportunity for networking in order to strengthen those partnerships and pursue the goals of the Global Compact. “We have been able to engage in dialogue with representatives from governments, UN officials and civil society organizations,” she noted. “I have observed how the voice of the churches is valued both for their local presence and for being trusted partners,” she concluded.
