Second International Forum on Migration and Peace

Bogota, Colombia, September 1-3, 2010

The opening of the Second International Forum on Migration and Peace was marked by eloquent speeches in defense of migrant rights.

The opening event in Bogota had as its theme:  Migration, Peaceful Coexistence and Independence: Toward  New Perspectives of Citizenship and Democracy.   

"I reaffirm the commitment of the Colombian Government to promote a culture of peaceful coexistence between migrants and host communities, not only through the purposes of this Forum, but also following the conclusions of the event,”  said Vice-President of Colombia, Angelino Garzon at the opening ceremony of the Second International Forum on Migration and Peace in Bogota. 

Speaking to an audience of  approximately 350 experts, representatives of governments and organizations in defense of migrants, invited by SIMN (Scalabrini International Network of Migration) as well as the Mayor of Bogota, the Vice President of Colombia has committed to the service of his country, in search of peaceful coexistence, through the reduction of inequality and redress for victims of domestic violence. 

"For over 50 years our country lives under the irrational violence that generates 3.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).  Colombia is in an important process of repair, but we want to strengthen progress through bills that would allow us to make amends to victims, especially through the return of land seized by guerrillas, paramilitary groups and drug traffickers,” said Garzon. 

To cope with the complexity of a sound migration process in Colombia, Angelino Garzon pointed out the inequalities present in South America, aiming toward a goal of a single digit unemployment rate in Columbia.

The Executive Director of SIMN, Leonir Chiarello, noted that the process of globalization, economic crises, the impoverishment of entire populations, violence, climate change and other social variables, are the main factors of increased international migration. Debates on issues surrounding migration, however, do not consider sufficiently, said Chiarello, one of the most challenging aspects of this phenomenon: the peaceful coexistence between local communities and migrants.  "March 2010 marked the Celebration of the Bicentennial of the Iberoamerican Republics.

Within the context of this celebration, the Second International Forum on Migration and Peace will consider how violence and lack of independence causes conflict, and weakens a democracy leading to difficulties for peaceful coexistence," emphasized the director of SIMN, highlighting the central theme of the Forum.

The Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Colombia, Monsignor Aldo Cavalli, focused his speech on what he called the question of method, enumerating three central points to analyze the migration phenomenon. "First we must face the problem with the awareness that others are no different than ourselves and that migrants are part of each one of us and we need to solve their problems as our problem.  Second, we need to put solutions in place for the migrant, and finally, we must ask what would Jesus Christ would do in our place.”

Most Reverend Nel Beltran Santamaria, Bishop of Sincelejo and Advisor of the Human Mobility Section of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Colombia, considered it urgent to create opportunities that seem paradoxical, like migration and peace together in one human project.  "The right to migrate is inseparable from the right to peace.  Peace is inseparable from human dignity and regardless any adjective applying to him/her, the migrant is a human being with the right to be treated with dignity," he said.

The Director of SIMN and the Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of Saint Charles, Fr. Matteo Didone, noted that the Second Forum was organized to create a common awareness on the most basic issues of migration, “issues that indicate global imbalances, and can be better resolved with the sharing of resources,” adding that the main purpose of the Forum is to identify what steps to take and then take those steps to ensure that migrants can live their lives with physical and economic security.

The Regional Advisor for the Americas of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Diego Beltrand, said the IOM is allied with SIMN in defending the rights of migrants.  “In remote borders and regions, one will find a Scalabrinian presence as a protective hand of migrants,” he said.  Beltrand continued by noting that the Second International Forum on Migration and Peace is an excellent opportunity for reflection of the dynamics of migration and an opportunity for peaceful coexistence. 

In recent decades, said Beltrand, migration has reached higher visibility with its many unsightly faces, including trafficking of persons, smuggling of migrants, and issues involving discrimination and xenophobia. Diego Beltrand discussed the massacre of 72 immigrants in Mexico that caused worldwide outrage, portraying the plight of migrants in different regions.

Present at the ceremony, Executive Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Gerhard Wahlers said that "to reach a peaceful coexistence means essentially to develop migration policies that support the acclimation of migrants into a community and sensitizes the local populations where they live.”  Wahlers mentioned a report from the ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) providing proof that the problem of wealth distribution is a major cause of inequality in Latin America, affecting the quality of education and public health.

Concluding the Opening Ceremony of the Second International Forum on Migration and Peace, the Manager for Latin America Programs of Porticus Foundation, Juan Esteban Belderrain, said the Foundation's first challenge in their extensive work in social programs, is to break the causes of indifference and promote a more peaceful coexistence.

The Mayor of Bogota, Samuel Moreno Rojas, speaking on behalf of the local government, mentioned the willingness to give opportunities to human mobility, highlighting the positive impact of remittances from Colombians living abroad, a sum which he said, reaches more than $600 million.

Lara JP Roseli MTB 0088-MS
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About the Scalabrini International Migrant Network (Organizer of the Forum)

The Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) brings together 270 organizations established in over 30 countries on five continents. Its mission is to safeguard the dignity and rights of migrants, refugees, travelers, sailors and anyone on the move.

The International Forum on Migration and Peace provides an arena for the process of building a peaceful coexistence between migrant communities and local communities.  Scalabrinian presence in different parts of the world allows SIMN to be organized jointly with SIMN member’s respective countries and local institutions for support.

This press release was established by the Scalabrinian Center of Communications.

For more information about SIMN, visit www.simn-cs.net

For more information about the Forum access www.forummigracionypaz.org

For more information about the Scalabrinian Center of Communications and the Scalabrinian Network of Communications, visit:  www.redescalabrinianadecomunicação.org