IOM and the Governments of Guatemala and the United States Coordinate Cooperative Actions on Migration by 2022
On November 18, 2022, in Guatemala City, representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and representatives of the Government of the United States and the Government of Guatemala met to learn about the main results of activities developed jointly with funding from the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the U.S. Department of State. The idea was also to coordinate future actions.
Marta Youth, Deputy Assistant Secretary of PRM, attended the high-level meeting and she stated, "We support the efforts between the Government of the United States and the Government of Guatemala to promote orderly, safe and regular migration. We are very grateful to IOM for the results of the Western Hemisphere Program”.
Among the main results presented were the strengthening of intergovernmental and intersectoral coordination to promote safe labor migration channels, prevention of irregular migration, strengthening of governance policies at the local and central levels, bilateral and cross-border cooperation, protection of trafficking and sexual exploitation victims; and communication of key messages and information to inform migrants about safe migration.
"We are interested in joining the campaigns, activities and actions of IOM. If we do so, we will have a great impact in combating irregular migration. Also, we must seek joint strategies and strengthen our communication so that we disseminate the same message, considering its cultural relevance. I want to congratulate you for the work done during this year!", said Eduardo Hernandez Recinos, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On the other hand, the IOM Chief of Mission in Guatemala, Jorge Peraza, said "IOM in Guatemala joins efforts from its various projects to strengthen Government's capacities to address migration governance". He also emphasized the importance of handling migrant population needs, particularly the most vulnerable.
The meeting was attended by deputy ministers and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Guatemalan Migration Institute, the Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Statistics Institute, the Ministry of Education and the National Association of Mayors.
The activities are implemented within the framework of IOM's Western Hemisphere Program.