EuropeItaly Vatican, bishops urge respect, help for migrantsVATICAN CITY, 25 August 2009 (CNS<)—Prompted by a sea tragedy involving the apparent deaths of dozens of Eritreans trying to reach Italy in a rubber raft, the Vatican and the Italian bishops urged authorities to guarantee rescue, medical help and respect to migrants in trouble.Read more< The Mediterranean Scores of migrants perish at seaROME, 21 August 2009 (BBC News<) — About 75 illegal immigrants from Africa have died while travelling on a crowded rubber dinghy between Libya and Italy.Read more< The Mediterranean UNHCR interviews asylum seekers pushed back to LibyaGENEVA, 14 July 2009 (UNHCR<) — UNHCR staff in Libya have been carrying out interviews with 82 people who were intercepted by the Italian Navy on the high seas on July 1 about 30 nautical miles from the Italian island of Lampedusa.Read more< Italy Vatican official slam's Italy's security lawROME, 3 July 2009 (AP<) — A top Vatican official for migrant issues has slammed a new Italian law designed to combat illegal immigration, saying in interviews published Friday that the bill criminalizes and demonizes foreigners.Read more< European Union "Stockholm programme" Recommendations for the migration and asylum policies in the EUFaith-based organisations from across Europe jointly present suggestions to the EU Stockholm Programme, which shall determine the direction of European Union policies in the area of freedom, security and justice for the next five years.Read more< United Kingdom Thousands back "Strangers into citizens" pro-migrants callLONDON, 5 May 2009 (Ekklesia<) — Thousands of people backed a rally in London and services and events across the country yesterday, calling for an amnesty for three quarters of a million migrants described as "undocumented" or "illegal" by the British authorities.Read more< |