Compassion in Action: Empowering Refugees & Students Around the World Jesuit Schools Network Colloquium 2016 Giulia McPherson Assistant Director for Policy June 21, 2016

The Global Refugee Crisis The world is witnessing the highest numbers of global displacement since World War II: 65.3 million people were displaced from their homes by conflict and persecution in One in every 113 people globally is now either an asylum-seeker, internally displaced or a refugee. Every minute, 24 people are displaced. Children made up 51% of the world’s refugees in 2015 Three countries produce half the world’s refugees: Syria: 4.9 million Afghanistan: 2.7 million Somalia: 1.1 million Worldwide, Turkey is the biggest refugee-host country with 2.5 million refugees. Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita: nearly one refugee for every five citizens. The average length of displacement for a refugee is 17 years. Six out of 10 refugees live in urban areas.

Why is Displacement on the Rise? Forced displacement has been on the rise since at least the mid-1990s in most regions, but over the past five years the rate has increased. 1.Conflicts that cause large refugee outflows, like Somalia and Afghanistan – now in their third and fourth decade respectively – are lasting longer. 2.Dramatic new or reignited conflicts and situations of insecurity are occurring more frequently. While today’s largest is Syria, wars have broken out in the past five years in South Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Ukraine and Central African Republic, while thousands more people have fled raging gang and other violence in Central America. 3.The rate at which solutions are being found for refugees and internally displaced people has been on a falling trend since the end of the Cold War, leaving a growing number in limbo.

Catholic Social Teaching Persons on the move —refugees, migrants, immigrants— are special in the eyes of God. Baby Jesus was a refugee who, along with Mary and Joseph, fled the terror of Herod into Egypt. (Mt. 2:14-15). In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus instructs us to welcome the stranger: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt ). In the encyclical, Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth), Pope John XXIII clearly articulates the right to migrate and the right not to migrate: “Every human being has the right to the freedom of movement and of residence within the confines of their country; and, when there are just reasons for it, the right to emigrate and take up residence there.” In 2003, the U.S. bishops issued the pastoral letter, Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope. In that document, the U.S. bishops articulated five principles which govern how the Church responds to refugee and migrant issues.

How and When Did JRS Begin? Fr. Pedro Arrupe Vietnam, 1980 This was Jesuit Refugee Service then…

JRS Today: 45 countries 10 regional offices 700k refugees

JRS International Programs Accompany, Serve, Advocate Education Counseling Care for people with disabilities Healthcare Emergency Relief

Education South Sudan

Emergency Relief Food Kitchen in Aleppo Food Baskets in Homs

JRS Action Network What is the JRS Action Network? Individuals and groups around the U.S., totaling more than 6,600 Play an active role in raising awareness about JRS/USA’s mission Support our work through advocacy and fundraising

JRS Action Network June 20, 2016 – World Refugee Day On World Refugee Day, the global community mobilizes to raise awareness about refugees and current crises that are going unnoticed. Join JRS/USA to engage your online networks and urge your policymakers to take action. September 2016 – Back to School Send a letter to your member of Congress in support of the Education for All Act and use social media to stand in solidarity with refugees around the world (#EducateRefugees). November 20, 2016 – International Children’s Day Celebrate International Children’s Day by raising awareness about the plight of children impacted by crisis and conflict. January 17, 2017 – World Day of Migrants & Refugees In honor of the World Day of Migrants, host a Refugee Awareness Week or Refugee Simulation to spread the word about the more than 60 million displaced persons around the world. Throughout the year, JRS/USA hosts a series of campaigns which serve as mobilization opportunities for the JRS Action Network. Please join us!

Advocacy in Action Speaking out on behalf of refugee rights is critical to the work of JRS. Students can take action by sending a letter to their policymakers on a variety of issues, including: Ensuring refugees have access to an education. Protecting asylum seekers who come to the U.S. Providing sufficient humanitarian assistance to refugees in need. Last year, over 17K letters were sent by JRS advocates to Congress and the Administration on these, and other, issues. Learn more at

Any Refugee

Walk a Mile in My Shoes Walk a Mile in My Shoes is experience offers a combined opportunity to raise awareness, conduct advocacy and fundraise (optional) on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. An opportunity for communities to pause and experience, if only vicariously and if only for a few moments experience the frustrations, the disappointments, and the hopes that refugees around the world face. A structured event in which individuals, students, community groups, and their guests assume the role of refugees and act out some typical activities that a refugee experiences. A strong tie to the JRS mission of serving the forcibly displaced and the centuries long Jesuit tradition of promoting social justice.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes Students at the University of Scranton visit the food and advocacy stations.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes Students at the University of Scranton experience what it might be like to live as a refugee.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes Students at Fairfield University prepare for their Refugee Simulation

In The News

Lampedusa Tour From October 6-21, 2016, JRS will host its first concert tour across the U.S. to raise awareness about the global refugee crisis. The tour will feature performances by Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller and will stop at the following cities: October 6 – Boulder, CO October 8 – Kansas City, MO October 9 – Lincoln, NE October 11 – St. Louis, MO October 12 – Milwaukee, WI October 13 – Chicago, IL October 15 – Toronto, Canada October 16 – Boston, MA October 18 – New York, NY October 19 – Philadelphia, PA October 21 – Washington, D.C. JRS invites all Jesuit high schools, colleges, universities, parishes and others to become partners in this effort by: Volunteering - JRS welcomes volunteers to helpstaff merchandise tables at concert venues. Volunteering - JRS welcomes volunteers to help staff merchandise tables at concert venues. Side Event - Host a side event at your institutionon/before/after the concert to raise awarenessabout issues impacting refugees. This couldinclude a JRS Walk a Mile in Your Shoes refugeesimulation; a panel discussion; or a fundraiser orcrowdfunding campaign. Side Event - Host a side event at your institution on/before/after the concert to raise awareness about issues impacting refugees. This could include a JRS Walk a Mile in Your Shoes refugee simulation; a panel discussion; or a fundraiser or crowdfunding campaign. Photo Exhibit - Host a JRS photo exhibit at yourinstitution to coincide with the Lampedusaconcert tour. Photo Exhibit - Host a JRS photo exhibit at your institution to coincide with the Lampedusa concert tour.