REGIONAL MIGRATION AND DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
In 2018,
89,000
In 2012, the Dominican Republic hosted over
children and adolescents were detained at the border between the United States and Mexico.
500,000 people of Haitian origin. 2
More than 80% are persons from Central America, mainly from the countries of the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Hunduras and Guatemala). Between January and June of 2018, the returns of migrants from the United States and Mexico to the countries of the Northern Triangle have increased by and adolescents 12,000 children have been returned.
+200,000
Haitians live in a stateless condition in the Dominican Republic.4
Between May and July 2018, asylum applications from Nicaraguans increased by
4,000%
Venezuelans remaining in Colombia
+819,000
42.5% Venezuelans in Peru
62%
+354,400
are children and adolescents.
Venezuelans in Brasil 5
50,000
Facts and figures
REGIONAL CONTEXT
48%
5
of the identified victims of human trafficking were children and adolescents. 1
1. UNODC, 2016 2. ENI 2012 3. CEPAL, 2017 4. IACHR 2016 5. OIM 2018
Haitian nationals make up over 80% of the migrant population of the Dominican Republic. Since 2015, Haitians migrating to South America, mainly to Brazil and Chile.
Venezuelans in Argentina 5
95,000
Recently, the political and economic crisis in Venezuela has caused over 1 million people to enter Colombia officially. The actual number is estimated to surpass 2 million as many are crossing in an irregular way.
At the end of 2015 Brazil authorized permanent residence visas for over 3 Haitians.
43,000
Causes of migration Before we left the country, I used to spend time with a group of young people.The gang killed one of my friends; it was like constant persecution by criminal groups." Lisseth, 15 years old. (El Salvador)
Poverty and lack of opportunities
Physical, sexual or psychological abuse Becoming a victim of people-trafficking and smuggling networks
Violence
Save the Children addresses the needs of children throughout the entire range of human movility.
Family reunification
“I have a lot to do at home; I have to take care of the land. They don’t let me study here.” Gabriela, 15 years old (Guatemala)
Risks in transit and at destination
Lack of protection and income generating options
Estefany, 15 years old. (Honduras)
Becoming victims of homicide Lack of access to education and health services
Return and reintegration Obstacles to reintegration in their schools
Used to transport drugs
“…there were more women than men among us and one of the women was raped.We were scared and so we turned ourselves in to immigration authority.Those who called themselves the “Zs” - we identified them because they had tattoos of the letter Z."
Psychosocial challenges Vulnerable to organized crime
“…the worst part of the process is that your dreams are shattered once you are detained. One says: wow and now what am I going to do? There is no hope for me here in El Salvador, only poverty and violence; my neighborhood is not safe. It is difficult to go back, people discriminate against you and that scares me”. Roberto, 16 years old. (El Salvador).
Save the Children response framework Save the Children has identified four areas of intervention necessary to respond to the migration crisis: 1.Promotion and protection of rights in communities of origin to prevent forced and dangerous migration. 2.Protection of children and adolescents in transit and reception at destination. 3.Protection of detained or repatriated children and adolescents. 4.Advocacy against the detention of migrant children and adolescents, and promotion of migratory procedures which have the superior interest of the migrant child at their core. The purpose of this regional strategy is to outline objectives at the regional level to respond to the needs of boys and girls in each phase of migration. This strategy ensures that the activities at the country level reinforce a coordinated regional vision. Origin / Pre migration Increased knowledge and information about the risks and rights violations along the migratory route. Awareness raising, information and media campaigns with a gender approach highlighting the root causes and risks on the route, including key messages for decision makers to improve their protection systems.
Alternatives to forced and unsafe migration for children, adolescents and their families are in place.
Increased protection of children and adolescents at risk of forced displacement.
Work with children and adolescents to strengthen their life projects, reduce violence and provide psychosocial support, especially in schools and other community spaces.
Analyze the situation in schools, replicate the safe school system, support in the consolidation of care routes within the formal and informal protection system and advocacy actions with the government for the acknowledgment of forced displacement.
Transit / Reception at destination Strengthened protection system for specialized care for children and adolescents who are victims of violence, ensuring quality care, wellbeing and restitution of rights. Prevention and protection related to human smuggling and trafficking, strengthening the care route for affected children and advocacy action for the elimination of the detention of children.
Strengthened cross-border and regional mechanisms that articulate national protection systems for children and adolescents, guaranteeing all their rights. Strengthening care services for children in transit by identifying formal and informal care routes and protocols, analyzing information and gathering data on cross-border protection mechanisms, advocating with the State on the importance of establishing cross-border protection mechanisms, disseminating information about services for migrant children, and appropriate application of bilateral protocols for the deportation/repatriation of children and adolescents. Return and reintegration
Processes for adequate reception and treatment of children and adolescents in destination countries are promoted.
The national and local protection systems are strengthened in terms of strategies to address migrant children returning to their countries of origin is strengthened.
Friendly and safe spaces for children and adolescents, working on an alternative care program for cases where reintegration into the nuclear family of origin is not possible, and guaranteeing access to work permits and livelihoods for families, access to education opportunities, language learning and other types of training.
Initial care during the return to the country of origin including reintegration to their communities, advocate for the adequate reintegration and investment in programs for the implementation of protocols for safe return and reintegration to communities.