Civil society organizations review a global compact on migration in Latin America and the Caribbean
Responding to the issue of migration has become ‘more fraught than ever’
Civil society organizations asked difficult questions last month at the 2nd Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in Latin America and the Caribbean. We are in, as International Organization for Migration Director General Amy Pope described it, a “critical moment” when “the ways to respond to the issue of migration have become more fraught than ever."
In late March, four representatives from the Mesoamerica Migration and Mission Network (MMMN) participated in the Regional Review process which took place over three days in Santiago, Chile. Together with other networks and NGOs throughout the region, we collaborated to write and share an official statement calling on the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to uphold the rights of migrants, to find disappeared migrants and to save lives. Find the full statementhere.
The GCM speaks eloquently of the rights of migrants and the obligations of the member states to defend those rights. It provides guidelines for making public policy and allocating grant funding that supports NGOs throughout the region, so that many member states and philanthropic foundations can use the Compact’s principles and objectives to prioritize funding for certain projects and programs. But the Compact also provides organizations with tools for advocacy, as we can point to the commitments different countries have made to encourage them to change public policy.
As the civil society statement reads: “Migration must be addressed comprehensively and based on human rights. Human dignity is non-negotiable.” While it is important to make sure people can get a regular migration status, we also emphasized that a country must respect all people’s rights regardless of migration status.
Many countries shared impressive accomplishments from programs like the Plan Retorno al Hogar that supports returnees in Guatemala to committed speeches on the importance of viewing migrants as human beings with rights, not just as a resource. However, many also ignored, downplayed or failed to mention the ways that migrants’ rights continue to be violated, whether people die or disappear in the Darien Gap or face state violence in El Salvador.
While the United States is not signatory to the GCM, the shadow of recent changes loomed large during the conference. Many organizations highlighted the effects of dismantling USAID funding that supported projects throughout the region aimed at supporting human rights and development. Some also condemned the ways countries throughout the region capitulated to U.S. demands to receive mass deportations from other countries, especially El Salvador, which has since received and incarcerated hundreds of Venezuelans and others in the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). Human rights organizations have leveled credible criticisms against the Salvadoran prison system’s widespread use of torture and the deaths of more than 300 people who have been incarcerated without due process.
The importance of organizations from civil society is to hold governments to account. Through impassioned speeches and carefully crafted statements, we joined our voices with organizations from the ACT Alliance of faith-based organizations, the AMMPARO Network supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, partners of UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief), and with other organizations from throughout the Americas.
Among others, the Rev. Santiago Flores of the Reformed Calvinist Church of El Salvador urged colleagues to include climate change as a driver of migration. Bridich Saragos from Frontera de Cristo in Agua Prieta, Mexico emphasized forced internal displacement in addition to international migration.
When we as Christian organizations and churches ask ourselves which side of history we want to be on, we remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 when he tells us: “Whoever has done this for the least of these has also done so for me.”
In this spirit, we continue to call on our political leadership, NGOs and churches to take the side of the migrants who face violence, poverty and criminalization.
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