The world is at its greatest level of displacement ever, millions of people have been forced to flee from their countries and escape from any disasters and conflicts. It is estimated that 130 million people are forcibly displaced including refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of trafficking, and other people in need of international protection, internally displaced persons, and those who are stateless. They experience discrimination based on gender, race, and even religion. This is evidenced by how nationality is arbitrarily deprived, how women are most vulnerable in passing nationality to their children, and how certain religious groups, like the Rohingya in Myanmar, are denied nationality. Discrimination resulting in statelessness can be both a cause and a product of displacement.

It is obvious that these people are marginalised, often forgotten, and subject to discrimination, they are the ‘stranger’ and ‘aliens’ in our midst. As disciples of Jesus, we are reminded of this and are called to exercise compassion and care for one another, including strangers (Matthew 25:31–46). In Leviticus 19:34, Israelites are reminded to treat the strangers that live among them with love and care because they themselves had once been strangers in the land of Egypt.

The Churcha session on ‘Welcoming the Stranger: Displacement, Statelessness, and Trafficking in Persons’ will probe the challenges faced by vulnerable asylum-seekers, people who are forcefully displaced and victims of trafficking to identify practical ways in which churches and ecumenical organisations can aid and support them. It also aims to raise awareness about the issue and discuss strategies for advocating for their rights and for promoting their dignity as fellow human beings.