Valuing Human Dignity: Challenging the Trafficking of Women




June 27- 28



Simon Fraser University Segal School of Business

500 Granville Street



The Interfaith Summer Institute for Justice, Peace, and Social Movements
announces a two day public forum. 

It's goals are to improve and build relationships between those who are opposed
to the sexual exploitation of women during and after the Olympics; provide an
analysis of trafficking and sex tourism that considers migration , displacement,
labour issues and the impact on Indigenous and racialized women; and consider the
contributions of spiritual and critical faith responses to the issue of
trafficking.

Our keynote speaker, Lidia Cacho, renowned journalist involved in fighting
trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and girls in Mexcio, will
address the issue of impunity for traffickers as well as programs her
organization is developing in Mexico for women and girls who have been
trafficked



Friday, June 27, 6:30pm - 9:00pm

* Calling Witnesses, Blanketing Ceremony and Honouring of Lydia Cacho
(Mexcio), Presentation of UNANIMA International Woman of Courage Award.
* Opening Panel

Saturday: June 28 -Workshops, Keynote Address, Panel and Open Space for
Community Organizations



Speakers and workshop leaders include keynote Lydia Cacho, Bonnie Hanuse(
Kwakwaka'wakw-Musqueam), Sarah Hunt , Laurel Dykstra , Ju Hui Judy Han,
Debra Issacs , Carol Martin(Gitanyou-Nisga'a), Angela Sterritt(Gitksan-Irish),
Naomi Minwalla , Annalee Lepp, and Shauna Paul.

Suggested donation: $20 (nobody will be turned away, unless the space is
full.)  Doors open at 6 pm. Friday night June 27th.

Go to www.interfaithjustpeace/org/forums.php
for workshop titles.

To register for the forum and workshops or learn more about the "Open Space"
email  info@interfaithjustpeace.org.

To listen to Lydia Cacho, our International Keynote Speaker

***************

100, 000 migrant Children are orphaned because of massive deportations in the U.S.

Translated from Spanish:
http://mx.news.yahoo.com/s/08062008/38/nacional-100-000-migrantes-quedan-hu-rfanos-deportaciones-masivas-ee.html&printer=1

Monterrey
(MX), June 7 (EFE) – 
The expulsions of undocumented immigrants in US territory this year left at least 100,000 Mexican children without
their parents, according to information from US and Mexican legislators.

Members of congress and senators from these 2 countries met today in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey, under the 47th interparliamentary
meeting that analyzes the migration problem, commerce and security between the 2 countries. 

Mexican congressmen Raymundo Ramirez and Antonio Valladolid and US representatives Jerry Weller and Brian Bilbray participated in a
discussion on migration.


“Up to the 31st of may of this year there have been 300,000 deportations of illegal immigrants in the U.S.”, said Ramirez.

For this reason “100,000 children have been left without their parents because of the deportations”, added the legislator.

According to data from Ramirez, this year 270 immigrants have died trying to cross the border with the U.S.

For that reason, the Mexican and us legislators announced the creation of a “binational” work group that will analyze the subject of migration between the 2 countries.

The proposal for the creation of that group “will be presented to the respective congresses and will begin its work as soon as possible,” said Ramirez.

“Families that were separated have to be reunited, it’s lamentable, but we are looking for a solution, although we know that it’s not an easy task”, said congressman jerry Weller.

“During this period we can work to agree on a bilateral cooperation that will examine this problem (that of family reunification)”, said Ramirez.

The Mexican government launched at the end of last year the program “humane repatriation,” to guarantee humanitarian and dignified treatment to the half a million Mexicans that are deported every year, on average, from the U.S.

According to official sources it is also common practice for the U.S. authorities to deport to Mexico children without their parents.

The Mexican and U.S. legislators coincided that it is “very difficult” that during the current year a migratory agreement will be reached, due to the electoral process in the U.S.

Nevertheless, the US congressmen affirmed that the virtual candidates for the presidency of the US, Barrack Obama and John McCain, “acknowledge” the migration problem.

Official figures indicate there are around 12 million people born in Mexico residing in the US, and half of those, about 6 million, are undocumented.

The interpaliamentary meeting concludes tomorrow.