Migration and Asylum
Violent conflicts have erupted on Europe’s doorsteps in recent years. Refugees find it increasingly difficult to enter Europe and access effective protection. Increasingly high numbers of refugees stranded at European borders underline the need to extend solidarity with those who cannot access European territory.
Through the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe we take initiatives to promote meaningful forms of refugee protection, in particular the resettlement of refugees to Europe. CCME cooperates with European Institutions, Member Churches, organisations and relevant networks to achieve its aims.
Work in this area includes:
- Countering trafficking in human beings as a form of slavery
- Uniting in Diversity: Migration as an opportunity and a challenge for the unity of the Church
- Churches as witness to inclusive communities in Europe
For more information and resources on Migration and Asylum, please visit the CCME website.
Related posts
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19 Sep, 2016
Churches stand with refugees as world leaders meet at UN summit
Today, 19 September, the UN General Assembly is hosting a historic high-level summit addressing the large movement of refugees and migrants at its headquarters in New York (USA). Here heads of states and governments from all regions of the world, as well as international observers, will work toward a more coordinated approach to growing worldwide refugee crises.
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2 Aug, 2016
Porajmos: Remembering Roma lives lost during World War II
Today, 2 August, marks Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, commemorating the extermination of more than 3,000 Roma children, men, and women at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944.
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20 Jun, 2016
World Refugee Day: “Have No Fear” – Churches call for intensified efforts
Today, 20 June, is World Refugee Day. The United Nations estimates that every minute 8 people flee from war, persecution, or terror. This day is observed to bring attention to their collective struggle and to address the widespread global displacement of millions of people.
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10 Jun, 2016
Have no fear: Ecumenical organisations address impact of the global refugee crisis in Europe
From 14 to 16 June church representatives from across Europe will gather in the Netherlands to address the challenges relating to refugee arrivals in Europe. Through prayer, discussion, and solidarity visits, participants in the three-day consultation will examine the churches’ response and collaborate on future action.
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7 Apr, 2016
The Refugee Crisis: Responses and Representation in the Media
All are invited to an online video presentation and discussion about media responses to the ongoing refugee crisis.
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22 Mar, 2016
Advocacy urged to increase refugee resettlement to Europe
The Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME), Conference of European Churches (CEC) and World Council of Churches (WCC) sent a letter to member churches and partner organizations in Europe urging them to undertake increased advocacy for more refugee resettlement with their national governments and parliaments in the next weeks.
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17 Mar, 2016
Refugee crisis continues: Church and Christian organisations call for concerted and ambitious action
Ahead of a meeting of the European Council, five European ecumenical organisations have written to EU political leaders urging action on the refugee and migrant crisis. The Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Eurodiaconia, EU-CORD, and ACT Alliance EU call on European governments to fulfill their promises and obligations under international law.
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25 Feb, 2016
Organization founded by Greek Orthodox priest awarded for helping refugees
The Greek island of Lesbos is one of the first landing points in Europe for refugees and migrants fleeing conflicts. Persons from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and churches are the first people to welcome them onshore. One such organization is Agkalia (Embrace), founded by Father Efstratios Dimou, a Greek Orthodox priest. The Council of Europe awarded Agkalia the 2016 Raoul Wallenberg Prize for its work on Lesbos.
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26 Jan, 2016
A Call to Shared Responsibility and Coordinated Action
Photo: Sean Hawkey/WCC The World Council of Churches and several United Nations agencies held a high-level conference on the refugee crisis in Europe on 18-19 January in Geneva. The conference saw representation from the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe as well as many from CEC Member Churches and Organisations in Partnership On this occasion the World Council of Churches, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a statement “Europe’s Response to the Refuge Crisis, From Origin to Transit, Reception and Refuge, A Call for Shared Responsibility and Coordinated Action.”
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18 Jan, 2016
Mapping Migration: New publication from CCME and the World Council of Churches
The Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) have published a revised and updated edition of their joint study, Mapping Migration: Mapping Churches’ Responses in Europe. The 2016 text explores challenges and changes in the European church landscape in light of international migration.