FMSI takes part in a Global Consultation of Experts
FMSI participated in the Global Consultation of Experts “Violence against children in mobility: from continuum of violence to continuum of protection,” organized by the Office of the Special Representative of the General Secretariat of the UN on Violence against Children, in the University Iberoamericana in Mexico City, on June 27 and 28.
On this occasion FMSI was represented by Maria José Lazcano,coordinator of the Centro de Apoyo Marista al Migrante (Marist Center of Support to the Migrant) (Queretaro, Mexico).
Through the use of different panels it was tried to picture or represent the dynamics of violence that affect the migrant and refugee children, as well as the positive actions and good practices which from different fields and organizations have been taken to improve the life conditions and the access to rights in the different stages which integrate the migratory process (origin, transit, destiny and return).
María José Lazcano stressed during her intervention the good practicesof some Marist initiatives: Three2six (South Africa), the Project Samut Sakhon for migrant children of Myanmar (Thailand), the Fratelli Project that seeks the inclusion of Syrian refugees (Lebanon) and Marist 180 for migrant children who are not accompanied (Australia).
These initiatives endeavor to get the protection and the right to education for the migrant and refugee children, helping them to find a secure place in schools, not to suffer discrimination. They support the construction of an including community through working teams qualified for giving attention to migrant and refugee girls and boys.
The good practices of the projects that have been presented were shared with colleagues of organizations such as Save the Children, UNICEF, ONU, ACNUR, IOM and organizations of civil societywhich work in countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Dominican Republic, United States, among others.
The intervention of FMSIstressed the importance of coordinated workwith other organizations of civil society, religious congregations and with the to obtain greater benefits for the migrant population. The need to cause impact with national local governments was stressedso that they assume their responsibility in the defense or protection of the social and economic rights, by establishing adequate processes for the integration of migrant children and their families.
In the same way, on the 28 and 29 we participated in the “Global Consultation of Experts”for the “Joint General Observation on the Rights of Children in mobility”which the Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers and the Committee on the Rights of the Child are preparing. Observations were made on the section on “Right to education and professional formation”.
We consider that it is fundamental to be present in these forums through the witnesses and experiences which come from the direct and committed work with migrant children at international level to continue strengthening our work, and above all, by promoting the access to fundamental rights to attain the full development of the migrant and refugee girls and boys in the world.