VATICAN DOCUMENTS     JOHN PAUL II    ASIAN CHURCHES

Introduction

Preamble

Vision of Faith

Refugees

Migrant Workers

Migrants

Pastoral Care

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1. Seventy representatives of the Catholic Bishops' Conferences, and their Commissions responsible for migrants and refugees, in twenty five countries of Asia and the Pacific, met in Manila from June 16^th to 19^th 1992* The Consultation was convened by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People in collaboration with the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences' Office of Human Development and the Episcopal Commission for Migration and Tourism of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. The Consultation was hosted by the Archdiocese of Manila, Philippines.

2. The participants in the Consultation wish to draw the attention of the Bishops Conferences of Asia and of their Commissions responsible for the well-being of migrants and refugees to the sad plight of these people. The urgent concerns on which we have reflected in the past few days have moved us to recognize that the Catholic community in both the sending and receiving countries have to take appropriate action to express continued solidarity with the people of Asia who are forced to move.

3. The fundamental motivation is our recognition of the need to live in the heart and mind of Jesus and particularly to abide by his teaching of compassion and solidarity with the least of our brothers and sisters. It is Jesus who calls us to this task: "I was thirsty and you gave me drink; hungry and you fed me; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me" (Mt 25:35-36). In the context of Asia, the growing anguished cry of migrants and refugees has moved us to a greater commitment to and service of their well being. As Church we continue to reveal God's utmost compassion, healing and salvation in the face of human reality. As Church we are also called to be involved in the promotion of more humane and just conditions in the place where they work and live so that they feel as part of the Church. This vision of faith is deeply rooted in the belief that we are created in the image and likeness of God (Gn 1:27). Such basic inspiration gives us a mandate to promote and protect the dignity of each migrant and refugee.

4. In a convergence of efforts, the Church together with people of all faiths adds its voice and points out the way towards the solution of these problems. She contributes her ethical and religious approach that leads to solidarity with all refugees and migrants. We are called in fact to collaborate in promoting the right of common access on the part of all people to the fruits of creation, and in realizing the unity of the human family and the universality of Christ's love.

5. During these days, we have listened to the diverse experiences of local Churches in confronting the challenges of migrant workers and forcibly uprooted people such as refugees, and internally displaced persons. The witness of pastoral and social workers deeply affected every participant. The anguish and the pain of millions of our brothers and sisters, marginalized and too often forgotten, became an incentive to manifest ever more effectively our solidarity with them. Special attention was called to the most vulnerable groups, women and children, who constitute the great majority of the victims of "perhaps the greatest tragedy of all the tragedies of our century." (John Paul II, February 21, 1982).

6. It emerged that the root causes of displacement - poverty, ecological disasters, war, ethnic conflicts and other forms of oppression - blur the previously clear distinctions between the categories of people in need of protection on the part of the international community. Although the technical definition of "refugee" has a value that needs to be preserved, we feel that assistance and protection should be mandated by the international community for a wider group of people, such as internally displaced people and those forced to flee the dread consequences of civil war, life threatening starvation, and natural or man-made disasters.

7. The invaluable service provided by international and governmental agency personnel and by non-governmental organizations deserves admiration, support and needs to be evaluated periodically. We particularly appreciate the selfless generosity of the thousands of Church personnel and the volunteers working with them who have given concrete witness to the Church in its constant attention to migrants and refugees.

8. Part of this ministry is to assist migrants and refugees to overcome their sense of dependence, to take charge of their own lives, to recognize the challenge to be active members of their new communities of faith, to contribute with their talents towards improving their conditions and to use their experience in order to enrich others.
Looking towards the future, we foresee a continued increase of forced human mobility in Asia as long as the economic gap between the industrialized and developing countries and political upheavals force people to leave their homes.

9. Continuing wars and massive violations of human rights are forcing people to flee. Governments should be reminded of their primary responsibility to uphold the principles of human rights, the dignity of the human person and the concern for the common good. We specifically noted that the continued embargoes on development assistance cause further refugee movements and severely hamper the repatriation process.

10. All countries of Asia, that have not already done so, should be encouraged by the Christian community to ratify the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees and the additional Protocol of 1967. Although this instrument reflects the conditions of its time, it continues to provide legal protection for a significant number of refugees. At the same time new forms of protection will have to be devised by the international community for the large number of internally displaced persons, unfortunately present in all continues and not covered by this Convention.

11. There are three possibilities open to refugees: resettlement, integration in the country of first asylum and repatriation. It appears that repatriation, de facto, is often the only option available to most refugees. This repatriation must be truly voluntary. Refoulement (Forced Repatriation) is simply unacceptable.
The Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) was adopted in Geneva in March 1989. This internationally agreed instrument reaffirms the status of refugees and provides for the repatriation of screened-out people. Governments, however, must never resort to the use of repatriation where the danger of persecution persist. To support a policy of indiscriminate repatriation goes against the stated commitment to protect the human dignity of asylum seekers. Morally, it is not justifiable to use the fate of one group (forcibly repatriated asylum seekers) as a means of deterring others from seeking asylum. In all circumstances, refugees have to be fully informed of the real conditions existing in their former countries. They also need to be helped so that the process of re-integration guarantees a decent and peaceful life for the whole community. Strategies such as the withholding of assistance or that of purposely making life more difficult in refugee camps in order to deter would be asylum seekers are morally unacceptable.

12. From the less developed countries of Asia a growing number of workers are compelled to seek employment in other countries to support themselves and their families. These workers are often treated as an economic commodity rather than human persons with dignity and rights.

13. A large number of Asian migrant workers is made up of women and the average length of their contract overseas is less than two years. These workers are extremely vulnerable in both the sending and host countries to exploitation and discrimination. They are unable to protest or take effective action against abuses.

14. The poverty and economic injustices existing in many parts of Asia are forcing millions of people to leave home in search of decent wages. Development assistance aimed at creating jobs in poor countries in Asia, however, is the preferable alternative. It should be maintained and increased.

15. Women migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation. The conditions under which many of them are forced to live and work can be described as slavery. The particular situations of the domestic workers and entertainers affects a number of countries in Asia. A more systematic joint program of action should be realized by the Churches and countries concerned to ensure that there is no exploitation of women.

16. The Church should try to persuade sending and receiving governments the exercise effective control over migrant recruiting agencies so that the basic rights of the workers recruited by them are fully protected.

17. The 1990 United Nations International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Their Families does provide important protection. The Churches in Asia should urge their Governments to ratify this Convention.

18. A number of migrant workers find themselves without proper documentation, and appropriate legal status. Such a situation cannot be used as an excuse to deny them protection of their basic human rights.

19. The particular needs of Asian women marrying men from outside their country is also of concern. These marriages are often arranged in a way that does not respect the normal religious and cultural traditions of women. Protection must be made available for those in this category who are exploited or suffer other injustices.

20. The migration policies of some countries, principally from outside Asia, are attracting skilled personnel needed for development in the poorer countries of Asia. These policies do not benefit the poor and they are harmful to the long-range social and economic progress of the sending countries.

21. The solidarity shown by the Church to migrants and refugees is regrettably often witnessed only by the persons directly involved in this apostolate. There is an urgent need for Bishops' Conferences to sponsor programs aimed at teaching their faithful about their responsibility to "welcome strangers" in their midst and to show the newcomers Christian love and solidarity. An annual event, for example, Migration Day, is indicated as one way of achieving this objective. The possibility of coordination of similar activities through concrete action at the Asian level is urgent and should be promoted and implemented by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.

22. We recognize that the activities of the Church in meeting the needs of migrants and refugees offers an important contribution towards the international effort that includes people of all faiths as well as governments and international organizations. In this overall effort, the Church must clearly articulate its specific role, at the local, national, regional and international level through an integrated ministry that takes into account the cultural, educational, social and religious aspects of the pastoral needs of migrants and refugees.