Christian Life Community - Europe
Forced Migrants Network
Conclusions of Euroteam Meeting, Malta, 29 June - 1 July 2001
The National Communities at the European Assembly in Slovenia (1999) resolved to give priority to the promotion of justice in favour of marginalised persons. To this end, they asked the CLC Euroteam to encourage networking in this area. The Euroteam subsequently identified the forced migration issue as the first area to concretise this mandate. At the meeting organised by the CLC Euroteam and which was held in Malta on the 29th June - 1st July 2001 we, the participants:
A. BELIEVE that :
- the National Communities should consider concern for forced migrants as an integral part of their mission;
- individual CLCers and local communities already involved in this issue can be a motivating force:
a) for the communities to become better informed on the question of forced migration; and
b) for other communities and individual CLCers to become actively involved at different levels of commitment as an expression of the mission of the whole community.B. IDENTIFIED some initiatives that are being or may be implemented on a local level, possibly through co-operation with others, such as :
- be-friending forced migrants;
- addressing basic needs of forced migrants (e.g. spiritual needs, emotional needs, language lessons, housing, jobs, etc.);
- attempts at influencing political structures;
- inter-cultural and inter-religious exchanges to facilitate the integration of Forced Migrants;
- collaboration between CLCers in neighbouring regions.
We believe that these are signs of the Spirit at work, and we want to encourage and nurture this.
C. RECOMMEND the setting up and coordination of a NETWORK which will:
- (i) Make information available, and
(ii) Spread already existing information,
both within and outside CLC, of the true and factual situation of forced migration in an effort to counter existing false perceptions about forced migrants and to enhance compassion / understanding of forced migrants;
- Create an awareness of the different categories of forced migrants so that specific help would be provided for the specific needs of each. The categories of forced migrants are:
- refugees according to the Geneva Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights;
- victims of armed conflict;
- victims of wrong economic policies;
- victims of natural catastrophes;
- internally displaced persons as a result of the above;
- Encourage and stimulate CLC communities on a local level to work on this issue;
- Assist in the exchange and promotion of different CLC experiences / ideas in the area of forced migration,
- Support and coordinate the creation of a list of available human resources, namely :
- persons already actively immersed in the issue, whether on a full-time, part-time or voluntary basis; and
- persons with particular skills or expertise to offer;- Collaborate with JRS, organised forced migrants, and other NGO's;
- Encourage the training of existing and potential volunteers;
- Attempt to influence political structures and decisions;
- Analyse and reflect on an ongoing basis on the situation of forced migration.
Network Structures
Members
The Network shall consist of a Convenor on the European level and a "co-ordinator" appointed by each National Community.
National Co-ordinators and their role
Each National Community may opt from two possibilities:
- to set up a working group which will choose its own co-ordinator;
OR
- to choose a co-ordinator already involved in this work. In this case, it is recommended that the co-ordinator will set up a team to help him / her in this work.The duties of the National Co-ordinating Team shall be to:
- see to it that the information passes on to the CLC members and to others. This is necessary so as both CLCers and others may be informed about the issue and also to counter any false information;
- encourage and organise training for those involved in this work;
- co-ordinate and support the efforts of those CLCers and CLC communities committed to this apostolate;
- discern goals and the methods to achieve these for the coming year.
Convenor
The Convenor on the European level shall be chosen by the National Co-ordinators. This may be a member of the Euroteam or one of the National Co-ordinators. If the convenor is one of the National Co-ordinators, a member of the Euroteam shall join the meeting of National Co-Ordinators.
Meetings of Network
The Convenor shall bring together (preferably and, if possible, annually) the National Co-ordinators for a meeting during which:
- Experiences are exchanged
- Work carried out on the national level is evaluated
- Best practises are promoted
- Common difficulties are discussed
- Guidelines established
- Joint initiatives are planned
- Discern goals and the methods to achieve these for the coming year
Continuous communication between National Co-ordinators via e-mail and other means, should serve to establish the desired spirit of community for this network