Communication experts advance towards a better understanding of migration in Honduras
Tegucigalpa, September 16, 2020 - Honduras continues to take steps towards a comprehensive policy on migration. More than twenty government institutions, under the leadership of the Office of Communications and Presidential Strategy and the Secretariat of Governance, Justice and Decentralization (SGJD), and with the technical accompaniment of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Institute for Migration and Peace Studies (IEMP), met to gather inputs in order to establish a strategic communications plan that makes visible the dynamics of migration in Honduras and the progress in managing migration and protecting all migrants.
This initiative was born within the framework of the comprehensive migration policy that has been under formulation since last year, with the aim of managing migration in a sustainable and humane manner. "Thanks to the formulation of this new comprehensive migration policy, Honduras will come closer to achieving orderly, safe and regular migration," explained Likza Salazar, IOM National Project Officer in Honduras, during the opening of the working session.
"There is total commitment on the part of the Government of Honduras to bet on this comprehensive migration policy that is a pioneer in the region," explained Julia Garcia, Director of Planning and Local Governance of the SGJD.
"What is not communicated, does not exist. That is why, also in times of crisis, it is necessary to provide an effective and innovative communication response that allows the government to be accountable for their actions," added Salazar.
This communications plan will identify target audiences, content and qualified messages, which will allow the Government of Honduras to have greater coverage and impact in the dissemination of its messages on the different stages of migration. Among the inputs gathered, the importance of empowering journalists and opinion leaders on migration issues was highlighted, as well as promoting the creation of a platform to consolidate qualitative and quantitative information.
In addition, emphasis was placed on the need to create a strategic communications group led by the Office of Communications and Presidential Strategy to establish a comprehensive protection message that meets the needs of each migrant.
This technical support is provided in the framework of IOM's Western Hemisphere Program, which is funded by the Office of Population, Refugees and Migration of the U.S. Department of State.