First International Forum on Migration and Peace in the American Continent

January 31tst 2009, Antigua, Guatemala

“Why did they treat us like criminals, when all I was doing was to try to provide a better future for my daughter?”- cried Marvin!

There were many poignant moments during the first day of the International Forum on Migration and Peace being held in Antigua, Guatemala on Jan. 29-30th, but it was his cry that resonated across the hall touching deeply inside the over than 180 participants.

The day had started with the introductory remarks of Oscar Perdomo, Private Secretary of the Vice-President of Guatemala, representing the government, the Most Rev. Mons. Pablo Vizcaíno Prado, President of Guatemala Conference of Catholic Bishops, and other dignitaries representing religious organizations, civil societies and political entities.

The first panel entitled “Reconciliation and Peace-Building Processes: Their Impact on International Migration,” saw Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, Ms Rigoberta Menchú Tum and representatives of the Red Cross, Handicap International and Doctors without Borders sharing their experiences.

The second panel of the morning, “International Migration: Walls or Bridges in the Development of a Peaceful Coexistence?,” brought together representatives of the academia and of the political arena in a varied and interesting exchange.

In the afternoon the theme “The Role of the Church in the Promotion of Peaceful Coexistence Between Migrants and Local Communities,” was handled by international religious organizations: the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People; the Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC); the Human Mobility Commission of CELAM; the Migration and Human Traffic Program of SELAC; and the Human Mobility Commission of CEC.

The strongest emotional impact of the day was generated by the personal experiences shared during the last panel of the day “Promoting Peaceful Coexistence Along the Border.” After the testimony of two directors of Migrant Centers along the Mexico/US borders and in Chicago, the stage was offered to three migrants who shared their experience of hope in reaching “El Norte” and of the violent crashing of their hopes when they were arrested during the Postville raids in May 12, 2008 and then deported back to Guatemala. Their story touched deeply the many participants and underlined the importance of forums like this one to provide space and time for reflection and discussion on a resolution of the structural and cultural difficulties preventing a harmonious social coexistence.

The Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) connects over 270 organizations scattered in over 30 countries in the five continents, and networks with several hundred volunteers and 700 Scalabrinian priests and religious. Its mission is to safeguard the dignity and the rights of migrants, refugees, seafarers, itinerants and people on the move.