All migrants have the right to human rights, says the Vatican

“[A]ll migrants, regardless of their status, are entitled to enjoy human rights and [. . .] special attention must be given to avoid discrimination and to protect vulnerable migrants such as women, unaccompanied minors, elderly and disabled persons,” he said.

“Treaties already exist which include a strong commitment to protect refugees, persons deprived of nationality, migrant workers and members of their families, and persons who are victims of smuggling and trafficking. These are key multilateral provisions aimed at ensuring respect for the rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, all of which—and this is one of the purposes of our Forum—is related to development. In fact, how can migrants, men or women, possibly contribute their best to genuine development if their situation is not humane?”

Quoting from Benedict XVI’s speech to the United Nations on 18 April of this year, in which the Holy Father noted that “the future will be built on human rights”, Monsignor Marchetto said that “any form of temporary and circular migration should never be taken as a pretext for avoiding full respect of migrants' rights, and specifically their right to family reunification, their right to the recognition of their contribution to development both by their work and by means of their savings sent home. Failings in this area would point to a lack of integration and cooperation policies in host countries, as well as of national development policies in the countries of origin.”

“Development is a key word in our meetings, but in its shadow we often see poverty. Discrimination, violence, restrictions of personal and collective freedoms, are realities that are common both to migration and poverty. Both are related, among other aspects, in forming closed groups, which impede encounter and dialogue, and deprive people of mutual enrichment and exchange, integration and reciprocity, understanding and common benefit.”

Monsignor Marchetto stressed the responsibilities that fall on the authorities. The government of countries of origin must provide employment and better jobs whilst those in host countries must recognise that  “family reunification is the best way to promote the integration of immigrants and to eliminate many problems, especially those related to security and public order.”