This year, the Fourth Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs had a thematic focus on perspectives on migration, including: displacement and marginalization, inclusion and justice. This timely theme was imperative as the Global Compact on Migration will be adopted at the end of the year. It brought faith leaders and religious organizations from around the world to create dialogue, engage, and cooperate to create a unified faith-based voice on issues of migration.

Faith-based organizations have a large responsibility to use their political voice to assist the international dialogues on migration. "Around the world, faith-based organizations are found on the frontlines of crisis, providing food, shelter, education, and medical and psychological support to migrants and refugees...work[ing] tirelessly to assert their human rights and dignity, independent from national and regional political interests" emphasized Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed. Faith-based organizations must be present and involved in these processes on migration in order to be a moral voice for our nation's leaders. MIA Mercy Global Action at the UN continues to be actively engaged in the process towards a Global Compact on Migration with Member States, other organizations and grassroots ministries, especially in the upcoming intergovernmental negotiations.

Watch the opening session of the Symposium

Messages to: Angela Reed rsm - MIA Coordinator at the UN - Mercy Global Action