UN agencies mourn the loss of life of people on the move in Latin America and offer to accompany a coordinated regional response
October 15, 2021 - UN agencies deeply regret the sinking of a boat on October 11 in Acandí, Colombia, which was carrying about 30 people to Panama. In this tragedy, three people lost their lives and six others, including three minors, are missing, according to the Colombian authorities.
This incident highlights once again the desperation of families with children and the extreme risks to which people on the move are exposed throughout their journey, crossing borders, often on irregular roads due to the lack of roads. of regular migration, in search of safety, the protection of their human rights or a better life.
Although they are not new, population movements through the Darien region have increased in magnitude, level of risk and precariousness in recent months. The diversity of nationalities has also increased, including flows mainly from the Caribbean, South America and people from other continents, as well as the profile of the people who use this route.
Between January and September of this year, 91,300 people have crossed the Darien, according to the National Migration Service of Panama. Of these, according to UNICEF, 19,000 were girls or boys. Half of them under 5 years old. As of September, more than 50 people in transit through the area have been found dead on the Panamanian side of the Darien road. This situation requires cooperation between the countries involved and civil society actors so that actions can be taken to enable the search and identification of missing persons on these journeys.
Many people, particularly women, children, are exposed to risks and rights violations along the route, including sexual and gender-based violence, theft, human trafficking, discrimination, kidnapping and extortion, among others, some committed by The orginazed crime. The situation particularly affects girls and women, so a response with a gender perspective is necessary.
The agencies of the United Nations system highlight the need to reinforce safe, regular and orderly migration routes to reduce the risk of losing lives and urge to strengthen the investigation against organized national and transnational networks involved in trafficking, smuggling and smuggling. related illicit activities. They also urge States to protect the rights, including the right to seek and receive asylum, of all persons on the move, particularly families, women, girls, boys and other persons with particular protection needs, and urge States to guarantee effective access to basic services, regardless of the reasons why these people left their country of origin, their immigration status, their level of income and the circumstances or travel conditions.
Healthy economies and societies depend on well-managed human mobility to drive economic growth, reduce inequalities, connect diverse societies, and stimulate post-COVID-19 recovery.
Collaboration between the authorities of the transit countries of these mixed population movements is essential to design and implement a comprehensive and effective regional response that ensures dignified and safe mobility. The UN agencies reiterate their availability to accompany this process.
Joint statement of the regional offices of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Office for Human Rights the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Labor Organization (ILO), UN Women, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS), the the United Nations for Development (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Office for Reduction Risk Management (UNDRR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
For more information contact:
William Spindler, UNHCR, +507 6382 7815 spindler@unhcr.org
Aikaterini Kitidi, UNHCR +41 79 580 83 34 kitidi@unhcr.org
Juliana Quintero, IOM, +54 11 32488134 juquintero@iom.int
Jorge Gallo, IOM, +506 7203 6536 jgallo@iom.int
Laurent Duvillier, UNICEF, +507 6169 9886, lduvillier@unicef.org
Alfonso F. Reca, UNICEF +507 6941 2
