Catholic sisters: International community has responsibility for every migrant

By Sr. Titilayo Aduloju, SSMA

“We cannot turn our backs on those who risk their lives to seek dignity and hope.”

Those were the words of Sister Carmen Elisa Bandeo, Coordinator of the International Migrants & Refugees Network at the International Union of Superiors General (UISG).

She was speaking at the launch of a list of policy recommendations on the subject of migration, which UISG is publishing on 3rd October, Italy’s National Day of Remembrance for migrants and refugees.

“Today, an integral, integrative, and inclusive approach to development, linking local experience to global decision-making with coherence and accountability, is more urgent than ever,” she said.

The UISG policy in support of migrants and refugees

“UISG believes the international community has a responsibility to provide assistance to all migrants and refugees, guaranteeing the full respect of their rights, and facilitating their integration within host communities,” Sr. Bandeo said.

Thus, the policy recommendations emphasize the importance of supporting internally displaced people and international migrants through language education, skills training, and capacity-building projects.

They also highlight the need for accurate information about the dangers of journeying to Europe, promoting integration, and engaging immigrant and host communities in shared intercultural endeavors.

In addition, UISG also advocates for a shift in media narratives, promoting inclusion and integration, and establishing alliances between aid agencies, religious institutions, and media organizations.

 It also calls for ethical measures and fair, equal, and legal access for all migrants to the EU.

The purpose of the policy

These suggestions are directed to UISG's partners and allies, national governments, intergovernmental agencies, international development organizations, networks of civil society organizations, and all individuals of goodwill, dedicated to constructing a more equitable and sustainable world.

Sr. Bandeo said that “the recommendations emerged from UISG’s Sister-Led Dialogue on Migration held in July, the second of a series of dialogues organized by the UISG initiative Sisters Advocating Globally, in collaboration with the Global Solidarity Fund.”

Statistics of migrants who lost their lives in 2022

Tareke Brhane, President of the 3rd October Committee, a non-profit organization founded in the aftermath of the Lampedusa shipwreck of 3 October 2013, affirmed that, globally, “more than 50,000 migrants have died between 2014 and 2022, without counting those lost at sea, kidnapped or missing in transit – those who are invisible from birth to death.”

Similarly, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that “nearly 3,800 people died on migration routes within and from the Middle East and North Africa between January and December 2022: the highest number since 2017, over 11% higher than the previous year.”

UISG dialogue of migration

UISG's Sister-led dialogues

In 2023, UISG sponsored a series of "Sister-led Conversations", aiming to create a global network of Sisters and to build strong communication channels with partners, exchanging experiences and fostering a sense of community and reflection.

This year’s encounters with the title “Religious Women: Leadership and Development” will take place on 23rd -24th October 2023 in Rome and will end in the first-ever “UISG Advocacy Forum.”

UISG will gather its global networks for a two-day discussion aiming to identify priority areas for national, regional, and international advocacy that can lead to systemic change, linking traditional wisdom and spirituality to emerging needs deriving from the rapid transformation of our societies.

The UISG's Sister-led dialogues are designed as a forum for reflection on important development issues from a range of angles.

In order to identify priority areas for national, regional, and worldwide advocacy that can result in systemic change, UISG will bring together its global networks for a two-day discussion.

The dialogue will also help individuals and organizations to form a coalition that can advocate for a secure and prosperous future for everyone by identifying strategies to strengthen marginalized communities throughout the world.

The International Union of Superiors General

The International Union of Superiors General (UISG), founded in 1965, represents over 600,000 Catholic Sisters worldwide. Its main goal is to foster collaboration among Catholic women's congregations. UISG currently has 1,903 members. In 2023, it is hosting dialogues with the government, civil society, academia, and the press to discuss issues relating to sustainable development and community protection.