The main purpose of the consultation is to share and analyze concerns, information and opportunities among members in the region and the ICMC network regarding important trends, decision making and related processes, said Johan Ketelers, Secretary General.

ICMC serves and protects the needs of uprooted people, refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants, with operations in 30 countries of the world, including Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Turkey.

A few of the points for discussion at the consultation are national and regional circumstances, structures and trends in migration human trafficking and the booming phenomena of labor migration the wellbeing of migrants and their families, and the link between national, regional and international policy building and action.

“The voice of the Church is increasingly important in these debates at all levels and therefore we hope to finalize the agenda after we receive participants’ thoughts,” Ketelers added.

All presidents of Bishops Conferences or a designate mandated with a level of authority to represent the Bishops’ Conferences to ICMC, such as the Chair of the Episcopal Migration Commission or other national structure for migration issues and others who are involved in the care of migrants are to attend the said event.

“We are also grateful to the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People of CBCP in hosting the meeting and the Philippine Migrant Rights Watch< in providing logistics in the organization of this consultation in Manila,” said Maha Al-Adhami, Communications Assistant, ICMC.

ICMC is mandated by the Holy See to work with the Bishops Conferences worldwide, ICMC’s members, on issues relating to the movement of peoples, in permanent and active collaboration with the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, and acting in close collaboration with the Secretariat of State with respect to its presence and activity at international level.

Maasin bishop and chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ICMI), Precioso Cantillas; Cotabato Archbsihop and Secretary General of the Federation of the Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC)<, Orlando Quevedo, OMI; and Jaro Archbishop and CBCP President Angel Lagdameo, are among those invited to attend the consultation. (Santosh Digal)