This organization merits attention. It is active in many fields, from development, and poverty eradication to migration and women’s issues. We encourage everybody to visit their website at: www.franciscansinternational.org. Franciscans International (FI) works at the UN and international organizations to influence decision makers on behalf of the most vulnerable.
This is their (FI’s) Vision Statement
We are men and women who are committed to the ideals of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. As St. Francis once addressed the social leaders of his time with the challenge of peace, so today we are called to engage policy makers and world leaders at the United Nations for the work of justice, peace, the care of creation, and the promotion of human rights.
Migration
We quote from their entry on Migration: “Studies and reports continue to highlight the global character of international migration. Increasingly, migrant workers - documented and undocumented - become victims of a broad range of human rights abuses by various actors during the migration process. The growing prominence of International Migrant’s Day (18 December), as well as the large number of conferences and publications dedicated to this subject, demonstrates that migration is now centre stage. Whilst this trend is generally positive, vigilance is needed to ensure that migration policies and practices are framed within a rights-based approach”.
Still quoting FI’s entry: “Franciscans International is actively engaged in campaigning for the ratification of the MWC, the first legally-binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights for all migrant workers and members of their families. The Convention, which entered into force on 1 July 2003, has only received 34 ratifications to date. The need for mobilization is therefore urgent. Why?
The Convention….
- Bridges the gap in protection due to the situation of vulnerability in which migrant workers and members of their families frequently find themselves.
- Views migrant workers as people: more than mere laborers or economic entities.
- Provides, for the first time, clear international definitions of ‘the migrant worker’, categories of migrant workers, and members of their families.
- Guarantees minimum universal human rights standards for all migrant workers, both documented and undocumented. Further, rights are extended to documented migrant workers and members of their families, notably in the equality of treatment with nationals, and in employment in a number of areas.
- Promotes inter-state collaboration to prevent and eliminate exploitation, and sanctions for violence against migrant workers or members of their families.
- Encourages states to ensure their legislation matches recognized international standards”.
Our video today is a version of St. Francis’ prayer.