MISSION DURCH MIGRATION

1.2 Migration and Registered Latin American Migrants in Switzerland
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The 20 th Century has become the Century of migration. It made the great European emi-
gration wave of the 19 th Century fade into insignificance. Main factors triggering migra-
tion are high density of growth of population, poverty, under- or sub-employment, lack
of professional perspectives, political and ethnic repression, force, armed conflicts, envi-
ronmental destruction and natural catastrophes. People and refugee movements have
reached global dimensions and affect every nation. In the mid nineties the number of in-
ternational migrants was estimated to have reached 100 million people, which accounted
for 2% of the world population at that time. Within the EU there is hardly any migration
taking place. Population increase is due mainly to an influx of people from the Second
and the Two-Thirds World. In the year 2000 Switzerland was in third place after Luxem-
burg and Liechtenstein, with 19.3% of the population being foreign. Registered Latins
account for 2.43% of this figure. These official statistics do not include non-residental
Latins, asylum seekers and children. Over 70% of these Latin immigrants come from
South America with Brazil leading the way with 35%, followed by Colombia and the
Dominican Republic with just over 12% each. Two important aspects need to be noted:
first, since 1980 the total figure of Latin migrants is continually growing and second,
since 1993 women have outnumbered men. This phenomena is probably due to restric-
tive visa regulations and work permits and does have implications for the church.
1.3 Personal Survey of Latin American Christian Migrants in Switzerland
The survey was completed by Christians from 14 Latin countries. Brazil reached the
greatest representation with over 38%, followed by Ecuador (15%) and Peru (13%).