IOM organizes Regional Congress on Human Trafficking and Organ Trafficking in Central America
The Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and Human Trafficking of Guatemala and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from Lawyers Without Borders, held the first Regional Congress on human trafficking March 5-6 in Guatemala City, addressing the removal and trafficking of human organs and tissues. Experts and prosecutors from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Belize participated.
IOM promotes labor integration of migrants in Tijuana
Tijuana, Mexico, February 28, 2019. 33 migrants have been hired thanks to the “Second Municipal Job Fair for people in migration contexts” which was held February 27-28 in the Patio Central of the Municipal Palace of Tijuana. 18 businesses with 746 openings participated, and 256 migrants attended. .
Health professionals will be able to learn about human trafficking through a virtual course from IOM
San José, Costa Rica The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is releasing a new course on human trafficking directed toward health providers. This course offers staff in the health field practical guidance to understand the crime of human trafficking. Additionally, it seeks to build the capacity of staff to recognize possible cases, understand the potential health problems associated with the crime, and be familiar with appropriate tools and focuses for assisting victims and potential victims of human trafficking.
Over a thousand migrants have returned voluntarily with assistance from IOM in Central America
In response to the so-called “migrant caravans” in Central America, in October 2018 the International Organization for Migration (IOM) created a special temporary program to assist the voluntary return of migrants stranded in Mexico or Guatemala who lack the necessary resources to return to their homes. To date, IOM has provided assistance for the voluntary return of 1,195 people, 48 of whom are unaccompanied minors.
IOM interviews migrants from caravans in Chiapas
- Violence and the search for work are the primary reasons why Central Americans are migrating.
- Access to basic resources and to information about forms of regularization and human rights are some of their main needs.
“Somos Colmena” emerges as a virtual informational community for migrants in Mesoamerica
Since 2016, the Regional Migration Program: Mesoamerica- The Caribbean has used “Informarte en Movimiento” [Inform Yourself on the Move], a virtual community on Facebook, as a platform for informing and raising awareness among migrants in the region about the risks of irregular migration (such as human trafficking), regular migration pathways, the integration of migrants, and more. In order to improve its informational work and the versatility of its brand, the Informarte en Movimiento community will become “Somos Colmena” [We Are a Hive].
IOM backs communication for development as a tool to promote regular migration in Mexico and Central America.
Communication for development (C4D) is a methodology that seeks to generate participatory processes through which local actors can find solutions to promote behavioral changes that bring about social change. IOM has used C4D with great success in other regions, such as Southeast Asia, with the project IOM X. In this case, the “IOM X Roadshow” model will be utilized in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic begins consultations for the creation of the National Action Plan on Migration
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), held two meetings with around 30 of the country’s consuls in various cities in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe, with the objective of introducing the initial consultation process for the creation of the National Action Plan for Migration - PLANAMI.
IOM builds capacities for monitoring migration flows in Mexico and Guatemala
The displacement tracking matrix (DTM) is a system that IOM uses at the global level to track and monitor displacement and population mobility. This methodology is designed to capture, process, and disseminate information regularly and systematically in order to enable better preparation for and response to migration flows in different parts of the world.
Migrant information hubs in Costa Rica strengthened with the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives
Upala, Costa Rica. Since October 2018, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has worked in conjunction with the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) with the goal of improving the services offered by the migrant information hub in the Municipality of Upala, and identifying strategic synergies with civil society in the area.