Refugees and Migration

Among the world's uprooted people are migrants who are forced to leave their country to survive or to ensure their family's survival. Their lives are threatened by economic injustice and ecologically destructive development, as opposed to the political persecution that creates refugees.

There are around 180 million migrants in the world. In 2003, remittances from those who worked abroad in order to support families at home totalled $100 billion-higher than the global international development assistance.

Developed countries contribute to human displacement through unjust trade policies, exploitative business activities, and irresponsible development practices, and benefit from the cheap labour pool provided by migrant workers. Canadian laws offer limited protection for temporary migrant workers.

Through KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, the United Church is working on Canada's need to recognize migrant rights and to encourage a more realistic immigration policy that meets our labour and demographic needs. Immigration is most often closed to migrants.

With KAIROS, we advocate for Canada's ratification of the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The Convention came into force in 2003. It states that receiving countries have a responsibility to offer certain protection to migrants. All current signatory countries are source or sending countries; receiving countries, like Canada, have refused to sign onto the Convention.