IOM and Government of Mexico City sign collaboration agreement on International Migrants Day

Mexico City - On December 18, International Migrants Day, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Secretariat of Social Inclusion and Well-Being (SIBISO) of Mexico City signed an collaboration agreement to build the capacities of public servants to adopt, manage, and sustain initiatives that facilitate migrants’ access to trustworthy migration advice and social services in the country’s capital. 

“With the signing of this agreement, Mexico City joins the 15 active Information Hubs IOM has supported through the Regional Migration Program, currently located in the states of Chiapas, Baja California, Quintana Roo, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, and Tamaulipas,” explained the Chief of Mission of IOM in Mexico, Christopher Gascon, at the event held at Casa Refugio Citlaltepetl. 

The cooperation between IOM and SIBISO improves the integration and social cohesion of migrants in their new destinations. “This issue involves recognizing not only migrants as active members of the societies to which they belong, but also the communities that receive them and can contribute to their development,” said Gascon. 

The Secretary of Social Inclusion and Well-Being of Mexico City, Almudena Ocejo Rojo, noted the special role this city plays in migration: “At the beginning of this year, the first migrant caravan was received, [and this year] between 7,000 and 9,000 migrants passed through the city,” she stated. “The Secretariat is supporting joint efforts to develop comprehensive policy for assistance to migrants, and to ensure no one is considered illegal because of their migration status,” concluded Ocejo. 

On his part, the Director for the Southern Border and Regional Migration of the Secretariat of External Relations (SRE), Marco Antonio Fraire Bustillos, expressed that “Mexico has been a country with a special role in migration,” and highlighted the effort of the Government of Mexico and the SRE to “address the structural causes that motivate migration.” 

The Regional Coordinator of UN Mexico, Antonio Molpeceres, was present at the event and read the message of the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres. Migrants who will benefit from this initiative also attended. 

The commemoration of International Migrants Day provides an opportunity to consider the millions of people living outside their places of origin and to reiterate the importance of respecting the rights and dignity of all. 

For more information, contact the Communication & Media department of IOM Mexico, email: iommexicocomunica@iom.int Tel: +55 5536 3922 Ext. 119.