It is fundamentally important to IOM to protect and promote the human rights of migrants. The conditions and situations that many of them experience, especially if they migrate irregularly, make them particularly vulnerable to human rights violations.

The Western Hemisphere Program aims to improve the capacities of the institutions that protect and assist migrants with a human rights focus. The Program shares information with representatives from governments, civil society, and communities, and builds their capacities in a wide range of topics such as the LGBTI population and migration, migration and youth, migrant children, women and migration, human trafficking and exploitation in emergency settings, psychosocial assistance for migrants and those who serve them, and more.

Invisible Movements in the Caribbean: persons with SOGIESC and LGBTQI+ community

Invisible Movements: Recommendations for Facilitating the Movement of Persons with diverse Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities, Gender Expressions and Sex Characteristics in the Caribbean

In 2020, there were approximately 281 million international migrants in the world, representing 3.7 per cent of the global population. Moreover, migrants who belong to historically marginalized groups are often at risk of discrimination, stigmatization, violence, or difficulty accessing assistance when mobilizing across country borders, especially when they have an irregular immigration status. Persons of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community in the Americas and the Caribbean are an example of such a group that can face obstacles to their regular and humane migration conditions. Therefore, IOM conducted this study to examine the situation of cross-border movement within the region among members of the LGBTQI+ community. This study focuses on the policies and legislation affecting the cross-border mobility and migration of persons with diverse sexual orientations, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) in the Caribbean. Using a human rights approach based on principles enshrined in regional and international instruments, it analyses specific case studies in different countries to provide examples of good practices, limitations, and opportunities for improvement.

Invisible Movements in the Caribbean: Indigenous Peoples

Invisible Movements: Recommendation for Facilitating the Cross-Border Migration of Indigenous Peoples in the Caribbean

In 2020, there were approximately 281 million international migrants in the world, representing 3.7 per cent of the global population. Moreover, migrants who belong to historically marginalized groups are often at risk of discrimination, stigmatization, violence, or difficulty accessing assistance when mobilizing across country borders, especially when they have an irregular immigration status. Indigenous populations in the Americas and the Caribbean are an example of such a group that faces obstacles to their regular and humane migration conditions. Therefore, IOM conducted this study to examine the situation of cross-border movement within the region among indigenous peoples. This study focuses on the policies and legislation affecting the cross-border mobility and migration of indigenous peoples in the Caribbean. Using a human rights approach based on principles enshrined in regional and international instruments, it analyses specific case studies in different countries to provide examples of good practices, limitations, and opportunities for improvement.

Invisible Movements: Recommendation for Facilitating the Cross-Border Migration of Indigenous Peoples in the Caribbean

The number of people who migrate across international borders continues to increase. In 2020, there were approximately 281 million international migrants in the world, representing 3.7 per cent of the global population. Moreover, migrants who belong to historically marginalized groups are often at risk of discrimination, stigmatization, violence, or difficulty accessing assistance when mobilizing across country borders, especially when they have an irregular immigration status. Indigenous populations in the Americas are an example of a group that has faced important obstacles to their humane and orderly migration. As a consequence of long historical processes of colonization, decolonization, and the creation of new independent States, many of the territories where indigenous people live are located across the bordering regions of more than one country. Given their ancestral connections with these lands, free movement is crucial for their self-identification as indigenous peoples, their self-determination, and their cultural survival as distinct peoples across the world. Therefore, IOM conducted this study to examine the situation of cross-border movement within the region among indigenous peoples. This study focuses on the policies and legislation affecting the cross-border mobility and migration of indigenous peoples in the Caribbean. Using a human rights approach based on principles enshrined in regional and international instruments, it analyses specific case studies in different countries to provide examples of good practices, limitations, and opportunities for improvement.

Training Program: Protection & assistance to vulnerable migrants: profiles and reference mechanisms

Activity conducted on June 18, 2021, in the framework of the Regional Conference on Migration. "The Training Program: Protection & assistance to vulnerable migrants: profiles and reference mechanisms" was presented during this session.

Information Hubs on Migration: Mesoamerica and the Caribbean [MANUAL]

This manual aims to offer an easy to use guide for the opening, maintenance and streghtening of Information Hubs on Migration. These are a model addressed at local government staff, institutions and organizations wanting to offer information centers for the promotion of regular, safe and orderly migration.

Infosheet - Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) Mesoamerica Program 2015, 2016 and 2017

Infosheet - Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) Mesoamerica Program 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Vulnerable Migrants

The Regional Migration Programs’ Knowledge Uptakes provide lessons learned and promising practice-oriented solutions to feed into the consultations for the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) and serve as a global knowledge product for policymakers and practitioners. The Knowledge Uptakes draw upon the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM)-funded Regional Migration Programs’ years of experience in supporting migration.

Migration and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex (LGBTI) People

Migration and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex (LGBTI) People

This Training Module is designed for State institutions, civil society organizations and collectives, and individuals interested in developing training, awareness-raising, and capacity-building processes focused on the reality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) migrants. It seeks to highlight LGBTI migrants as subjects of law, acknowledging their particular vulnerability due to the discrimination they face because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as their status as migrants.

Paths of Light and Shadow: Stories of migrant children and adolescents

Paths of Light and Shadow: Stories of migrant children and adolescents.

The booklet “Paths of Light and Shadow” portrays experiences of Central America migrant children. The objective is to increase the visibility of this human tragedy and to raise awareness and invite reflection on the harsh reality these populations face.

Regional Guidelines Image

Regional Guidelines for the Preliminary Identification of Vulnerable Migrant Populations and Referral Mechanisms

The Regional Guidelines have been designed to provide Member States of the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) with general guidance for the development and implementation of preliminary identification and referral of migrants in vulnerable situations. With this publication Member Countries are encouraged to use these guidelines and keep advancing towards practical, consensual, and comprehensive solutions to address the complex challenges posed by migration and thus contribute to more humane migration management.