EUROPE/SWITZERLAND - Religious communities make an appeal for World Refugee Day: “As Christians and Jews, we are called to ensure that those who need our protection are admitted and can build their own lives.”

Bern (Agenzia Fides) – “World Refugee Day, June 20, 2008, is an opportunity to focus on the destiny of all those who are forced to abandon their country,” said a statement issued by various religious communities on the occasion of World Refugee Day. The text is signed by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC), the Conference of Swiss Catholic Bishops (CSB), the Old Catholic Church of Switzerland, and the Federation of Swiss Jewish Communities (SIG).
The document says that “there are over 33 million people in the world who have fled their homes. The majority of these seek protection in their own country or neighboring countries, due to violence and persecutions.” Switzerland has also admitted a large number of these people in need of protection, presenting “an opportunity and a challenge both for our society and those who enter the country.”
According to these religious leaders, the destiny of these people that come seeking refuge is not paid attention to in the media. The recall, for example, the thousands of Sudanese that live in camps in desert areas and the Iraqi refugees that seek refuge above all in the Near East, or the refugees of Burma that live in camps near Thailand and who abandon their country years ago “and are hoping to find a solution to their difficult situation.”
Last year, in Switzerland alone, 10,000 people sought asylum and “in 75% of the cases, Switzerland recognized their need for protection and granted asylum and admission.” In fact, “Switzerland has promised to promote the integration of those people in need of protection,” however this commitment – the religious leaders say – cannot be an effort only on the part of authorities. “Integration implies both the good will of the foreigners as well as the openness of our Swiss citizens.”
“As Christians and Jews, we are called to ensure that those who need our protection are admitted and can build their own lives,” the text concludes. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 19/06/2008)