Church leaders urge governments to put interests of children before immigration control

Forgotton refugees from Western Sahara - living in desert camps near Tindouf, Algeria since 1976

On World Refugee Day today, church leaders around the world appealed for governments to put the interests of children and vulnerable refugees fleeing war and persecution before immigration control.

In the UK, the Catholic Bishop for Migrants, Bishop Patrick Lynch said: "The UK as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child should uphold the rights of unaccompanied migrant children and always provide the protection and support that they need."

He welcomed the recommendations proposed by the 'Joint Committee on Human Rights of Unaccompanied Children and Young People in the UK' report published on Wednesday, which focus primarily on the best interests of the children - by protecting, upholding and supporting the rights of unaccompanied migrant children.

During his Wednesday audience, ahead of World Refugee Day, Pope Francis invited the world: "to give special consideration to the situation of refugee families, often forced to leave their home and their homeland quickly, to leave all they own and every security, to flee from violence, persecution or grave discrimination on religious, ethnic or political grounds. In addition to the dangers of the journey, often these families risk disintegration and, in the country that receives them, having to deal with cultures and societies that differ from their own. We cannot be insensitive to the families and to all our brothers and sisters refugees: we are called to help them, opening up to understanding and hospitality. May people and institutions around the world never fail to assist them: their face is the face of Christ!"

In response to these words, Bishop Lynch said: "The call from the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to give special consideration to the situation of refugee families has a particular significance here in England and Wales. That is the reason why I've asked the Coalition Government to put the interests of children always before immigration control."

In the Uniter States, Archbishop José H Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration, marked World Refugee Day, by calling for US support and resettlement of vulnerable refugee populations across the world, including Syrians fleeing conflict in their country.

"The conflict in Syria is worsening and it is time for the United States and the international community to do more to respond to the needs of Syrians fleeing their country for safety," Archbishop Gomez said.

Archbishop Gomez added that particularly vulnerable Syrians should be considered for resettlement to the United States and other countries, such as vulnerable women with children, the elderly and disabled, and unaccompanied refugee children.

"Resettlement to a safe third country should be considered, both to provide the best durable solution for vulnerable Syrians but also to take pressure off of neighbouring countries, such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan," Archbishop Gomez said.

To date, the United States has resettled only 24 Syrian refugees.

Archbishop Gomez also referred to other refugee populations worldwide in need of support and possible resettlement, including Rohingya Burmese in Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand; Congolese in East and Southern Africa; and Afghans who are fleeing to Turkey and other areas of the world. "We have an obligation to help these vulnerable populations," he said, "including and especially the most vulnerable refugees: unaccompanied minors and those that have become victims of human trafficking."

"Sadly, there continues to be no shortage of refugees in need of the world's attention and support," Archbishop Gomez concluded."As the world's leader in protecting refugees, the United States must do more to respond to humanitarian crises in and around Syria and other parts of the globe."

Source: CCN/USCCB/UN