"Migration is a phenomenon that is part of human history. The United
Nations estimates indicate 244 million international migrants and 65.3
million people in a situation of forced migration. Beyond the numbers we
are talking about lives, projects and people’s dreams who often find in
migration the only alternative for survival or hope for the future". This is what Sister Neusa de Fátima Mariano, Superior General of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo/Scalabrinians said in her speech at the Chamber of Deputies, in Rome, as part of the workshop that preceded the International Forum on Migration and Peace, organized by the Department for Integral Human Development of the Holy See, by the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
"The participation of children in migration flows, according to the UNHCR, has increased in recent years at an accelerated pace and represents more than half of the world's refugees - recalled the religious in the text sent to Fides. In line with Pope Francis' message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2017, let us remember that children and teenagers in movement in population flows are the first to suffer, with degrading situations such as human trafficking, exploitation, the abuse and deprivation of rights such as having a healthy and safe environment within the family, adequate education, to play and live and grow in a context of peace. Even migrant women need our attention, as they also often become more vulnerable in the migration flows. Many times they are at risk of suffering sexual exploitation".
Sister Neusa stressed that "we must overcome the idea that migration is a problem to solve or a contingency to control. Migration itself is a historical and social phenomenon that occurs in a positive way when it is voluntary. In other words, we draw attention on the importance that people have, along with the right to also emigrate also the 'right not to emigrate'. Ie, each country must ensure its citizens safe living conditions so that they do not need to travel, if they do not want to. In this context, the right to emigrate would be correlative to the right to stay".