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28 October, 2005
Migrant women are a sign of our times, says pope
VATICAN
Reported in Asia News
SUMMARY: The pope issues a message for the World Day of
Migrants and Refugees. Migrants are “vulnerable”, especially
women, who are sometimes enslaved and “used” by the sex
industry, and the Christian community is called to be committed
to assisting them. Concern is also voiced about problems linked
to access of migrants to host countries rather than the reasons
which prompted them to leave their homes. See the last
third of the speech for his words on refugees and displaced
people.
The phenomenon of migration is a sign of the times, however
current globalisation trends are leading to a “feminisation” of
migration, formerly a male domain. If all migrant workers are
“vulnerable”, women are especially so. At times, women have the
best potential to be the main source of family income, at other
times they are the victims of traffickers who may enslave them
and abuse them in the sex industry. It is such women and other
“vulnerable migrants” who are highlighted by Benedict XVI
in his message for the 92nd World Day of Migrants and Refugees,
which will be marked on 15 January 2006. In his message
published today, the Pope invited all to reflect on the reasons,
both political and economic, which spur people to leave their
country. His appeal comes at a time when far more attention is
paid to problems linked to access of migrants to host countries.
Entitled “Migration: a sign of the times”, the message places
migration among “signs of the times” which Pope John had
indicated to the Council and which were examined in the Pastoral
Constitution Gaudium et Spes as complexities of the modern
world.
The Pope wrote: “One of the recognisable signs of the times
today is undoubtedly migration, a phenomenon which during the
century just ended can be said to have taken on structural
characteristics, becoming an important factor of the labour
market worldwide, a consequence among other things of the
enormous drive of globalisation. Naturally in this “sign of the
times” various factors play a part.
“They include both national and international migration, forced
and voluntary migration, legal and illegal migration, subject
also to the scourge of trafficking in human beings. Nor can the
category of foreign students, whose numbers increase every year
in the world, be forgotten. With regard to those who emigrate
for economic reasons, a recent fact deserving mention is the
growing number of women involved (“feminisation”).
“In the past it was mainly men who emigrated, although there
were always women too, but these emigrated in particular to
accompany their husbands or fathers or to join them wherever
they were.
“Today, although numerous situations of this nature still exist,
female emigration tends to become more and more autonomous.
Women cross the border of their homeland alone in search of work
in another country. Indeed it often happens that the migrant
woman becomes the principal source of income for her family. It
is a fact that the presence of women is especially prevalent in
sectors that offer low salaries.
“If, then, migrant workers are particularly vulnerable, this is
even more so in the case of women. The most common employment
opportunities for women, other than domestic work, consist in
helping the elderly, caring for the sick and work in the hotel
sector. These, too, are areas where Christians are called to
dedicate themselves to assuring just treatment for migrant women
out of respect for their femininity in recognition of their
equal rights.
“In this context it is necessary to mention trafficking in human
beings – especially women – which flourishes where opportunities
to improve their standard of living or even to survive are
limited. It becomes easy for the trafficker to offer his own
“services” to the victims, who often do not even vaguely suspect
what awaits them. In some cases there are women and girls who
are destined to be exploited almost like slaves in their work,
and not infrequently in the sex industry too.
“Though I cannot here closely examine the analysis of the
consequences of this aspect of migration, I make my own the
condemnation voiced by John Paul II against “the widespread
hedonistic and commercial culture which encourages the
systematic exploitation of sexuality” (Letter of
Pope John Paul II to Women, 29th June 1995, No. 5). This
outlines a whole programme of redemption and liberation from
which Christians cannot withdraw.
“Speaking of the other category of migrants – asylum
seekers and refugees – I wish to underline how the tendency is
to stop at the question of their arrival while disregarding the
reasons for which they left their native land.”
Alas, the phenomenon is extremely widespread: Speaking during
the presentation of the document, Mgr Agostino Marchetto,
secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant
People, said the 20th century, “has rightly been called the
century of refugees and displaced people. Let us return, for
example, to the era of World War I and its consequences, and the
setting up of the first international institutions destined to
take care of some 10 million people.
“The Second World War followed which eradicated an estimated
eight million people in Europe alone”. Today too, continued Mgr
Marchetto, “if we seek to understand more profoundly the reality
of refugees and displaced people as a sign of the times, we will
find that they face very disturbing issues and we would wonder
why human intolerance and cruelty push some to the point to
persecuting their neighbour “for reasons of race, nationality,
membership of a particular social group or political beliefs”
[cf. 1951 Geneva Convention, Art. 1,A.2]. This convention lists
diverse forms of persecution including violence, intimidation,
torture, killing and detention which degrade – albeit in
different ways – both the perpetrator and the victim. If we take
into account a wider definition of refugee status, like those
adopted by some regional Conventions, we would include in this
category people who flee war, indiscriminate violence and mass
violations of human rights.”
The Pope’s message continues: “The Church sees this entire world
of suffering and violence through the eyes of Jesus, who was
moved with pity at the sight of the crowds wandering as sheep
without a shepherd (cf. Mt 9,36). Hope, courage, love and
“creativity in charity” (Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte,
No. 50) must inspire the necessary human and Christian efforts
made to help these brothers and sisters in their suffering.
Their native Churches will demonstrate their concern by sending
pastoral agents of the same language and culture, in a dialogue
of charity with the particular Churches that welcome them.
“In the light of today’s “signs of the times” particular
attention should be paid to the phenomenon of foreign students.
Thanks among other factors to foreign exchange programmes
between universities, especially in Europe, their number is
growing, with consequent pastoral problems the Church cannot
ignore. This is especially true in the case of students coming
from developing countries, whose university experience can
become an extraordinary occasion for spiritual enrichment. As I
invoke divine assistance on those who, moved by the desire to
contribute to the promotion of a future of justice and peace in
the world, spend their energies in the field of pastoral care at
the service of human mobility, I impart to all as a sign of
affection a special Apostolic Blessing.”
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