M I A M S I
XII GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FINAL MESSAGE
MIGRATION: AN
We, delegates from
movement members of MIAMSI, from 24 countries, of Europe, Latin America, Indian
Ocean, Africa and
In his message to the Assembly, SS Benedict XVI, encourages us to be “witnesses of hope”. Cardinal Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and for the migrants, invites Christian lay people “to transform attitudes and structures inspired by the Gospel of Christ”.
Migration may be an opportunity to build a more brotherly society. However, the conditions under which it takes place at present seriously affects individuals, families and people and represent an intolerable aggression to human dignity and to human rights, threatening social cohesion.
Migration often has its roots in family and cultural pressure, extreme poverty in the countries of origin as well as in the imbalances between different regions of the world.
It engenders fear, anguish, rejection, disintegration of families, schooling difficulties, inhumane conditions for health, lodging, labor…even loss of life.
We have been made aware that migration is a constant phenomenon in human history. It is permanent and ineluctable. In discerning this complex phenomenon of a new nomadism, which generates an extraordinary human mobility, we have also discovered that it is an opportunity to build a diversified, multi cultural, multi religious and more tolerant society.
Enriched by the reflection of the theological and social thought of the Church,
- and of the ethical and human values;
- with the conviction that God inhabits in Others;
- with the certainty that we share the same land;
we engage ourselves for a change of mentality and attitudes to become women and men more complete, open to the wealth of diversity.
The urgency of the situation calls us:
- To overcome our fears;
- To be well informed and well educated,
- To bring awareness to those like us,
- To engage ourselves and take a stand wherever we have influence and power, whether in politics, in the economy, in society, or in the Church.
As a movement it calls as:
- To participate in international and national organizations which defend and promote human rights of migrants;
- To manifest with force that every person, above all, has the right to live in its own country under conditions of dignity. This is a fundamental right.
- To promote joint migration policies between countries or origin and countries of destination,
- To strongly reaffirm that migration cannon be criminalized and the respect of their dignity and the exercise of their rights have to be warranted for all migrants including those living clandestinely,
- To create common projects and initiatives between people and groups of different origin searching a joint and complementary effort,
- To promote personal relationships with migrants, humbly and respectful of their language, uses, religion and convictions.
Being part of the Church, which is also God’s pilgrim people, we recognize:
- the equal dignity of all human beings and the value of their rights,
- the common destiny of the planet and of its wealth,
- the need to an active a type of solidarity that leads us to charity and love amongst us all.