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More than 50 civil society organizations (including Ayuda en Acción), together with migrants and their families, have issued a joint statement denouncing the growing violation of the rights of the migrant population. We are drawing attention to the increase in arbitrary detentions, deportations and restrictions that criminalize migration and endanger human lives. In addition, in the statement we criticize the cuts in humanitarian cooperation that affect those who provide assistance on the ground.
The statement was issued following the Second Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in Latin America and the Caribbean region, held in Santiago, Chile, from March 18 to 20. During the conference, the organizations pointed out that “detentions, deportations and other regressive measures are being justified under the argument of orderly, safe and regular migration,” which undermines the principles of the Global Compact for Migration itself and of international human rights and refugee law.
“We did not imagine such an abrupt attack on migrants, or that hotels would be turned into detention centers, or that a tattoo would be enough to lock them up in maximum security prisons, indefinitely and without a court order,” they stress in the text.
Ivanna Herrán, expert in human mobility at Ayuda en Acción and participant in the conference in Chile, describes the statement as “a collective work and an act of resistance”. “We cannot allow migration to continue to be criminalized. No human being is illegal and it is time to say it more clearly than ever. Migrants must be heard and protected”.
Justice, protection and legal channels for migration
In view of this situation, the undersigned organizations demand immediate measures to guarantee the dignity and rights of migrants:
- 1. Justice for missing migrants and recognition of their families.
- 2. Facilitation of legal migration channels and accessible and permanent regularization mechanisms.
- 3. Special protection for migrant children, women, the LGBTIQ+ population, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples and people of African descent.
- 4. Fight against xenophobia, discrimination and the criminalization of those who defend human rights.
- 5. Implementation of migration policies based on human rights and not on restrictive security measures and repression.
The undersigned organizations urge States to act coherently and make real commitments to the protection of migrants. We also reaffirm our willingness to continue working together to find inclusive and sustainable solutions.
