IOM presents new regional migration report covering the 8 SICA countries

San Salvador. On October 28, the results of a broad baseline study on migration and displacement in the region of SICA (Central American Integration System: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Belize, and the Dominican Republic) were presented. It is the first time that a study of this magnitude has been performed, given that previous efforts were concentrated in northern Central America or on specific aspects of migration.

The principal findings included needs for improvement in order to provide consular assistance to migrants vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, as well as to harmonize processes for determining refugee status. The study also found that only two of the member countries have developed specific legislation against migrant smuggling, and that challenges persist for responding to the specific needs caused by growing extra-regional migration flows.

The study was conducted over the course of a year, and over 70 government actors from the eight member States participated. The effort was led by SICA, IOM, and UNHCR, and its results are summarized in 151 points of action the region can take.

“One of the advantages of the study is that it examines migration from a comprehensive lens, with all its dimensions and considering the entire migration cycle,” stated Marcelo Pisani, Regional Director of IOM for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

“The most important thing is that it was a joint effort,” added Estela Aragon, IOM research coordinator. “Now it’s considered a patrimony of the region, which means it belongs to all the countries. All the points of action in the document have been agreed on, and so we have a strong baseline for beginning work on an action plan.”

The PAIM-SICA (Comprehensive Action Plan for Addressing Migration in the SICA region) will be the next step, in which all the member States will meet again to carry out joint actions. Additionally, it will involve civil society, academia, and other United Nations agencies and seek to create a comprehensive plan for the region with them.

On IOM's part, this study was performed within the framework of its regional cooperation initiatives, including through the Regional Migration Program: Mesoamerica-The Caribbean, financed by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State of the United States of America.

Download the complete study [Spanish] here: https://bit.ly/2oEkbKk