The International Catholic Migration Commission
serves and protects uprooted people: refugees, internally
displaced persons and migrants, regardless of faith, ethnicity or nationality.
serves and protects uprooted people: refugees, internally
displaced persons and migrants, regardless of faith, ethnicity or nationality.
   News Bite: GFMD GFMD Civil Society Days draws record number of applicantsGENEVA, 14 March 2014 (ICMC) - Almost 800 civil society representatives have applied to take part in this year’s Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Civil Society Days<, which will take place in Stockholm on 12-13 May. With the application process now closed, the International Advisory Committee, comprised of 35 civil society organizations from all around the world, is selecting 200 representatives to participate in the GFMD. Selection will be based on sectoral, and geographic, as well as representavity of the organization, relevant experience and knowledge on migration and development issues.Read more<  New Bite! Making "MADE": a migration and development network that links civil society all around the worldBRUSSELS, 14 March 2014 (ICMC) - It is always thrilling to start a new project, and even more so when that entails deepening collaboration with partners from all over the world. For ICMC and other civil society organizations working within ICMC’s new Migration And DEvelopment network, in short, “MADE”, much of the excitement comes from the opportunity to more consistently partner with and complement existing civil society groups. With co-funding from the European Commission, ICMC Europe opened up a new office for these purposes in Brussels in January 2014. Taking the lead is MADE Program Coordinator Wies Maas, who has worked with ICMC as senior programme manager on migration and development since 2011 in both Geneva and in New York.Read more<  News Bite! ICMC joins civil society campaign to call on EUROPE to ACT NOWBrussels, 12 March 2014 (ECRE) – The International Catholic Migration Commission, as part of the ECRE <coalition of more than 100 NGOs across Europe, has launched Europe Act Now< calling on European leaders to protect refugees fleeing the Syrian war. To date, just 81,000 Syrians have sought protection in the EU, Norway and Switzerland; representing only three percent of the total number of those who have fled. With a death toll of 130,000 and refugee numbers expected to escalate to four million by the end of 2014, this war marks one of the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time.Read more<  News bite! ICMC-coordinated side event at Human Rights Council advocates for migration issues to be placed on the Post-2015 Development AgendaGENEVA, 5 March 2014 (ICMC) - Migration significantly contributed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by raising incomes, funding investment in education and health care, supporting the creation of businesses and jobs; contributing to the transfer of knowledge, skills and ideas, and promoting investments and trade flows between countries of origin, transit and destination. The current 8 MDGs, however, are set to expire in 2015 and are silent on migration issues. For this reason ICMC coordinated an important meeting on the second day of the annual session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva to advocate for the inclusion of migrants and diaspora and their issues in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.Read more<  News Bite! ICMC Europe launches first SHARE Network MagazineBRUSSELS, 20 February 2014 (ICMC) - The UN refugee agency believes that resettlement is the only solution for 691,000 refugees around the world. Resettlement offers refugees living in protracted situations the chance to enjoy a secure life with rights and opportunities, and refugees in emergency situations to escape danger, access medical treatment and live in safety. Yet resettlement goes far beyond simply moving to a third state; it also involves being received and integrated within a new society. For resettlement to be a truly durable solution, host countries must offer refugees the reception and integration they need to settle into their new homes, neighbourhoods and societies.Read more<  Refugee Voices 'This is all I need', Ibitssam said 'this will keep me and my children warm.'JORDAN, 13 February 2014 (ICMC) - Ibtissam al Muhammad, a 26 year old mother from Deraa, Syria, fled to Jordan with her two small children. With little income, she struggles hard to protect her young family from harsh winter conditions. After her arrival in Jordan, Ibtissam decided to bring her children to live with her mother-in-law in Sahkrah, a small place in Irbid, not far from the Syrian border.…… ‘Sahkra is full of Syrian refugees’, Ibtissam says,’ it feels more like home because not only is my mother in law here, but also because a few of my cousins from Deraa settled here’Read more<  News Bite! ICMC advocates for an open and safe EuropeICMC advocates for a safe and open Europe GENEVA, 10 February 2014 (ICMC) - The 'Stockholm Programme,' the European Union’s current strategic guidelines on migration policies, asylum and internal security, is set to be replaced by a new set of procedures that European heads of state will adopt in June. To feed into the new guidelines, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström hosted a consultation in Brussels last week, gathering representatives of EU countries, the European Parliament and national parliaments, other EU institutions, international organizations, civil society organizations such as ICMC, academics and researchers.Read more<  News Bite! ICMC helps Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians prepare for winter in JordanJORDAN, 7 February 2014 (ICMC) – This week, ICMC Amman successfully completed its EU-funded winterization project in Jordan for Syrian refugees. Despite a country-wide shortage, ICMC identified reliable suppliers that were able to deliver the badly needed heaters and gas cylinders, during one of the coldest winters in many years. For the second year in a row, with the funding support from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), ICMC was among the very first NGOs in Jordan to complete winterization and successfully provide 825 vulnerable Syrian and Jordanian families with a gas heater, gas cylinder and 11 re-fill vouchers in the chilly wind-swept governorate of Ajloun.Read more< News Bite Urgent call for massive investment to prevent lost generation of Syrian childrenGENEVA, 7 January 2014 – UNICEF, UNHCR, Save the Children, World Vision and other partners today called for governments, aid agencies and members of the public to become champions for the children of Syria and support a "No Lost Generation" strategy to protect a generation of Syrian children from a life of despair, diminished opportunities and broken futures. Through the US$1 billion strategy, the organizations are focusing donor and public support on critical education and protection programmes to lift Syrian children out of misery, isolation and trauma. The strategy is being publically unveiled one week ahead of a major donor conference in Kuwait for humanitarian aid for SyriaRead more<  International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women ICMC project in Jordan helps Syrian refugee women and children fight isolationAl Mafraq, Jordan, 25 November 2013 (ICMC) – The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is betting on community involvement to help isolated Syrian women and girls in Northern Jordan better access social services available and face the many challenges of refugee life.Read more< |
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