Many Friends are called by their faith to act in the world. The number of Friends’ organizations, and organizations inspired by Friends, is a testament to these leadings to align human society with a divine vision.
However, while these organizations are inspired by a common concern, the demands of work contexts and arenas mean that these groups can often seem to be on parallel, rather than intersecting, paths.
Sometimes, though, an issue touches so closely on the core of these concerns that those paths converge. That is the case with migration.
The Quaker Statement on Migration, released in December, cuts across the specific missions of five Quaker organizations to unite on a common concern for migration justice – and for the migration injustice being perpetuated around the world. Other Quaker organizations and Friends groups are invited to endorse the statement.
The five groups – the American Friends Service Committee, Britain Yearly Meeting, Friends Committee for National Legislation, Quaker Council for European Affairs and Quaker United Nations Office – pursue different approaches and strategies while working towards the attainment of migration justice, bearing witness to the Quaker testimonies of peace and equality.
The statement begins:
“Rooted in our belief that there is that of the sacred in everyone, our spiritual leading to uphold the inherent value and agency of every human being, and our commitment to building a world without violence, we are heartbroken by migration policy that dehumanises some members of our human family on the basis of where they come from. …We are committed to working for a world where dignity and rights are upheld regardless of migration status and not on the basis of citizenship or perceived deservedness.”
From this common faith, powerful work for migration justice, both individually and collectively, can flourish. You can find the full statement below.
