STATEMENT
of the SIGNIS Asia Assembly 2012
Engaging the Creativity of the New Generation – Visibility for
the Vulnerable: Refugees, Victims of Human Trafficking & Migrant Workers
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – October 1-5
We, the Asian Catholic media professionals from 16
countries in this Assembly, discussed the plight of vulnerable communities,
especially migrant workers, refugees, trafficked persons, internally-displaced
persons and children, in the Asian context.
Hosting the Assembly in this country is exceptionally
significant because Malaysia is not just the destination of the powerless and
vulnerable communities, but also a hub and transit point for the region.
The 51 delegates explored and studied the theme Visibility
for the Vulnerable: Refugees, Victims of Human Trafficking & Migrant
Workers, with valuable inputs from various
stakeholders and collaborators.
Contributions
came from affected individuals, Church bodies, UNICEF, Tenaganita, ACTS (NGO
for refugees), KOMAS, the International Labour Organisation, press and
broadcast personnel, human rights centers and other similar bodies in the
region.
The Assembly firmly endorsed that the existence of vulnerable
communities is a reality which is on the rise around the region, and needs to
be addressed urgently.
We strongly believe that freedom for the vulnerable demands
that we have to respect and accept who they are – and not what we normally make
them out to be.
We are aware that the issues concerning the lack of
visibility for the vulnerable are major struggles, which need to be highlighted
by media professionals and social communicators.
As Catholic communicators, we accept that our role is not
just about disseminating information but also about interacting and advocating.
It is not just in telling but it is in doing; it is about collaborating.
Thus we need the courage of our personal convictions on how
far we would go to fight for the vulnerable, regardless of race, creed or
gender, without choosing only the groups whom we are comfortable with, but
being inclusive of all those who are facing subtle discrimination.
This means we will engage all media components such as the
broadcast, print and new media to provide visibility for the vulnerable through
our media education and local works in our respective communities.
This would affirm and align our works on the social
teachings of the Church because religion without compassion and sacrifice is
merely ritual and theology without mission is merely dogma.