Focusing on the situation generated by COVID-19, the II Migration Seminar concludes in Costa Rica

Costa Rica organized its II Migration Seminar during the week of October 19-23, 2020, with the support and participation of the International Organization for Migration in Costa Rica.  

The II Migration Seminar was held under the theme "Migration responses within the framework of COVID-19". For IOM, it was a demonstration of the strength of the word 'coordination', for which the organization recognized the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Directorate of Migration and Aliens (DGME), police forces, all national institutions and civil society, in the effort to ensure the attention and protection of the rights of migrants in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 Throughout the week, IOM collaborators presented at this migration event important achievements and substantial advances in migration management over the course of a year at the country level, which point towards a planned and well-managed response to the crisis. There was progress in the dimension of adherence to international standards and respect for the rights of migrants, including efforts to ensure access to basic services and personal and family security. 

The event had a reach of more than 500 people who participated virtually daily each day of the seminar. The DGME emphasized the development of lasting alliances with migration authorities in Panama and Nicaragua to address the challenges of migration, and coordination with civil society as an undisputed actor in the approach. It addressed the promotion of the socioeconomic well-being of migrants and society, promoting the timely regularization of temporary migrant workers.

In addition, COVID-19 fostered various comprehensive emergency responses, ensuring safe, orderly, and dignified migration and strengthening binational coordination for border control and measures to combat human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants.

"Through this Conference, it became evident how the country, thanks to national and binational inter-institutional coordination, has made significant progress in one year, which we congratulate," said Francisco Furlani, IOM Officer in Charge in Costa Rica.

IOM accompanied this country activity thanks to the Western Hemisphere Program, financed by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.