We are committed to seeing a (fellow) person in a refugee or migrant.
Explanation of Langemark 2.0
In Belgium, in Europe, refugees and migrants are under fire (literally and figuratively). They are ‘a stream that must be damaged’, ‘criminals who must be deported’, people who are dehumanized.
Following the World Refugee Day, Wakker is launching the ‘explanation of Langemark 2.0’. Together with numerous committed Flemish people, the peace network appeals to the humanity of politicians and authorities, of involved actors and all fellow citizens.
On World Refugee Day, International Day, the UN voted to honor refugees around the world, we celebrate the power and courage of people who are forced to flee their home country to escape from conflicts or persecution. We call on to form a ‘coalition of benevolent’ with many who welcome and receive refugees generous and warm in our society.
We ask politicians not to feed the fear in our society, but trust; In order not to raise walls around our wealth; In order not to stigmatize the strange newcomer as a source of loss of prosperity or insecurity. We challenge policymakers to invest in initiatives of hospitality, integration and connection. We require more efforts to eliminate the causes of forced migration in the countries of origin.
We draw the ease with which Europe is denying its values by concluding deals with dubious regimes and to violence with violence. We find it embarrassing that Europe passes its responsibility on countries that nevertheless have less capacity. We want a European migration policy that unambiguously departs from universal human rights. We call for a broad movement of groups and people who indemnify Europe in word and deed as a hospitable and solidarity continent.
We encourage media, journalists, opinion makers, NGOs, educators, teachers, artists, associations … to make permanent efforts to connect people. We argue for positive stories to give the attention they deserve, without being blind to the problems that must be mentioned and tackled.
We are committed to seeing a (fellow) person in a refugee or migrant. After all, we are all equal, no matter how much we differ from each other. Together we build wide support for dialogue, meeting and diversity. We invite all our fellow citizens to welcome refugees and migrants with concrete acts of solidarity. Together with all newcomers we work from a peaceful society – in our street, our village, our city, our country, Europe, the world.
Langemark, June 20, 2025