Remarks of Archbishop Celestino Migliore

Side Event on

"The Human Dignity of Women in Contemporary Society:

Issues and Best Practices in Migration and Refugee Services"

New York, 13 September 2006

Distinguished delegates, panelists, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this first in a series of side events addressing different facets of the human dignity of women in contemporary society.

As the Permanent Observer of the Holy See, and on behalf of our co-sponsors, the Path to Peace Foundation and the Vincentian Center for Church and Society at St. John's University, I am happy that you have joined us, one day before the United Nations High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development for this session entitled: The Human Dignity of Women in Contemporary Society: Issues and Best Practices in Migration and Refugee Services.

The distinguished panelists, Anastasia K. Brown, from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Mary Delorey, of Catholic Relief Services, and Sister Helene Hayes of the Good Shepherd Sisters, bring with them a great deal of policy, practical and research experience. Their expertise promises that we will have both an informative and interactive session this afternoon.

They will identify the key contemporary social, economic and legal issues impacting women migrants and refugees within home and host countries; discuss these issues though the prism of the dignity of each human person; and describe current best practices and the applied ethics approach to issues of migration.

I would like to also take this opportunity to announce that focusing on some different facets of the human dignity of women in contemporary society, subsequent topics for side events will include: (1) Caregiving within the Family: Moral, Legal, Economic and Social Issues; and (2) Aging with Dignity and Security. We are planning that these side events will be presented in conjunction with the upcoming CEDAW and Commission on the Status of Women meetings. We hope that you will plan to be with us. Thank you.