Resolution Number: 2015-D033
Title: Support Human Rights and Refugee Relief in Central America
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 78th General Convention acknowledge the continued violence against and displacement of citizens in Central America’s Northern Triangle (Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador), perpetrated by armed state and non-state actors, and calls upon The Church and regional governments to affirm and support the work of civil society and international organizations as they address the needs of the displaced in their countries of origin; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church support the efforts of civil society groups and regional bodies, especially the work of our sister Anglican province La Iglesia de la Region Central de America (IARCA), the Diocese of Honduras, and human rights organizations, which seek to address the root causes of violence and engage in advocacy and dialogue with their governments to serve the needs of and create safe spaces for internally displaced persons and refugees; and be it further

Resolved, That in solidarity with IARCA’s work to push for accountability by the governments of their region, The Episcopal Church advocate for the United States government to play a positive role, to strengthen legal institutions through financial support, and to encourage the governments of Central America and Mexico to acknowledge and uphold the legal rights of the displaced, asylum seekers, and victims of crimes perpetrated by armed groups and/or state actors; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church acknowledge the regional nature of this migration and call for a robust, holistic, regional humanitarian response from the United States government and its allies that addresses the root causes of violence (including the deportation policies of the US government, arms trafficking, and drug consumption in the United States), in the region; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church affirm the universal right to seek asylum; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church advocate for increased access to and funding for legal orientation programs and legal representation for Central American refugees and asylum seekers and that congregations engage in community efforts to provide pro bono legal services to refugees and asylum seekers in need of representation; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church call for an immediate end to the inhumane practice of detention of women who arrive in the United States with minor children (“family detention”) as a response to this refugee crisis; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church call for the immediate release of detained asylum seekers (particularly those who are LGBT, indigenous persons unable to communicate in English or Spanish, and persons who have disabilities or life-threatening illnesses).

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), pp. 922-923.

Legislative History

Author: Ms. Sarah Lawton
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Social Justice and International Policy

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Social Justice and International Policy presented its Report #16 on Resolution D033 (Supporting Refugee Rights in Central America) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D033)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General Convention acknowledge the continued violence against and displacement of the citizens, perpetrated by armed state and non-state actors, in Central America’s Northern Triangle and calls upon The Church and regional governments to affirm and support the work of civil society and international organizations as they address the needs of the displaced in their countries of origin; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church support the efforts and affirm the role of civil society groups and regional bodies, especially the work of our sister Anglican province La Iglesia de la Region Central de America (IARCA) and Fundacion Cristosal, a human rights organization with strong ties with both the Anglican Church of El Salvador and The Episcopal Church, in seeking to address the root causes of violence in communities and engage in advocacy and dialogue with their governments while creating protection avenues for internally displaced persons and refugees through regional cooperation; and be it further

Resolved, That in solidarity with IARCA’s work to push for accountability by the governments of their region, the Episcopal Church advocate for the United States Government to play a positive role, including providing funding support for strengthening legal institutions, to encourage the governments of Central America and Mexico to acknowledge and uphold the legal rights of the displaced, victims of crimes perpetrated by armed groups and/or state actors, and asylum seekers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church acknowledge the regional nature of this migration and call for a robust, holistic, regional humanitarian response from the United States Government and its allies that addresses the root causes of violence that force children and families from their homes and avoids remilitarization of civilian police forces in the region; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church affirm the right to seek asylum as universal and inherent to all people, and oppose all attempts to interdict refugees fleeing Central America at the borders of the United States or other countries of transit; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church stand opposed to the expansion of family detention as a response to this refugee crisis, and call for an immediate end to this inhumane practice; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church advocate for increased access to and funding for legal orientation programs and legal representation for Central American refugees and asylum seekers and that congregations engage in community efforts to provide pro bono legal services to refugees and asylum seekers in need of representation.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General Convention acknowledge the continued violence against and displacement of citizens in Central America’s Northern Triangle (Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador), perpetrated by armed state and non-state actors, in Central America's Northern Triangle and calls upon The Church and regional governments to affirm and support the work of civil society and international organizations as they address the needs of the displaced in their countries of origin; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church support the efforts and affirm the role of civil society groups and regional bodies, especially the work of our sister Anglican province La Iglesia de la Region Central de America (IARCA) and Fundacion Cristosal, a human rights organization with strong ties with both the Anglican Church of El Salvador and The Episcopal Church, in seeking, the Diocese of Honduras, and human rights organizations, which seek to address the root causes of violence in communities and engage in advocacy and dialogue with their governments while creating protection avenues to serve the needs of and create safe spaces for internally displaced persons and refugees through regional cooperation; and be it further

Resolved, That in solidarity with IARCA’s work to push for accountability by the governments of their region, tThe Episcopal Church advocate for the United States government to play a positive role, including providing funding support for strengthening to strengthen legal institutions through financial support, and to encourage the governments of Central America and Mexico to acknowledge and uphold the legal rights of the displaced, asylum seekers, and victims of crimes perpetrated by armed groups and/or state actors, and asylum seekers; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church acknowledge the regional nature of this migration and call for a robust, holistic, regional humanitarian response from the United States government and its allies that addresses the root causes of violence (including the deportation policies of the US government, arms trafficking, and drug consumption in the United States), that force children and families from their homes and avoids remilitarization of civilian police forces in the region; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church affirm the universal right to seek asylum, as universal and inherent to all people, and oppose all attempts to interdict refugees fleeing Central America at the borders of the United States or other countries of transit; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church stand opposed to the expansion of family detention as a response to this refugee crisis, and call for an immediate end to this inhumane practice; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church advocate for increased access to and funding for legal orientation programs and legal representation for Central American refugees and asylum seekers and that congregations engage in community efforts to provide pro bono legal services to refugees and asylum seekers in need of representation; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church call for an immediate end to the inhumane practice of detention of women who arrive in the United States with minor children (“family detention”) as a response to this refugee crisis; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church call for the immediate release of detained asylum seekers (particularly those who are LGBT, indigenous persons unable to communicate in English or Spanish, and persons who have disabilities or life-threatening illnesses).

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #226)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Social Justice and International Policy presented its Report #18 on HB Message #226 on Resolution D033 (Supporting Refugee Rights in Central America) and moved concurrence.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #359)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 3.

Abstract:   The 78th General Convention adopts a resolution broadly condemning violence in Central America and supports a range of activities that promote civil peace, protect refugees, and end inhumane detention practices against women, children and other vulnerable persons.