Protecting persons in situations of human mobility and statelessness, theme of the first regional consultation of the Cartagena+40 Process

Protecting persons in situations of human mobility and statelessness, theme of the first regional consultation of the Cartagena+40 Process, held in Mexico

The First Thematic Consultation of the Cartagena+40 Process, convened by Chile and Mexico, concluded today at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The consultation on "Protecting persons in situations of human mobility and statelessness" was inaugurated yesterday to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees. Participating in the inauguration were the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ruvendrini Menikdiwela; the Foreign Policy Secretary General of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rodrigo Olsen, and the Foreign Secretary of Mexico, Alicia Bárcena.

For two days, representatives of the governments of Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela discussed the current and future challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean to protecting people in situations of human mobility and statelessness.

The countries shared best practices that will be the basis for developing a ten-year strategic roadmap to guide the region's actions, strengthen its humanitarian response and lead to durable solutions for people in need of international protection and the host communities in the region.

Civil society and refugee organizations, the private sector, academia, ombudsman's offices, local authorities, development and finance agencies, and participating international organizations agreed to prioritize a comprehensive approach to protection as part of Chile's Plan of Action, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, adopted in 2018.

Ambassador Rodrigo Olsen noted that "unlike other regional or sub-regional meetings, the Cartagena Process allows us to bring together all the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to seek solutions to the diverse and urgent needs we face today and, at the same time, to anticipate those that will come in the decade ahead."

He added, "This makes 'Cartagena' a very valuable opportunity that embodies the principles of solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility in the search for solutions and strategies to face the legal and humanitarian problems that arise from forced displacement."

The countries will work together to adopt a new regional roadmap, the Chile Declaration and Plan of Action 2024-2034. The Thematic Consultation on Protection held in Mexico marks the beginning of this process, which builds on the consensus and progress made in the region. It will give continuity to the Brazil Plan of Action and be the regional implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees.

The First Thematic Consultation addressed the needs and challenges of displaced and stateless persons in countries of origin, transit, destination and return, the difficulties and risks of providing protection in host countries, and guarantees for a voluntary, dignified and safe return as a lasting and sustainable solution.

In her welcoming remarks, Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena stressed the urgent need for greater commitment in addressing the causes that lead people to leave their countries in search of international protection, and for strengthening protection for vulnerable people who require specific and differentiated attention, such as women, children and adolescents, the elderly, people with disabilities, the LGBTIQ+ community and indigenous peoples.

She also highlighted the importance of inclusion and empowerment for refugees, in order to improve their self-sufficiency by strengthening the capacities of host communities, fostering socioeconomic integration and promoting the active participation of refugees in society.

The next consultations will take place in May and June in Brazil and Colombia, in addition to a debate on the challenges and solutions for Caribbean countries. The Cartagena+40 process will conclude in December 2024 with a ministerial meeting in Santiago, Chile, where a Declaration and Plan of Action for the next ten years will be adopted.

"The Cartagena Process is the main contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean to advancing international refugee law, and a key tool for providing protection to people forced to flee on the continent," said UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Ruvendrini Menikdiwela. "The Chile Plan of Action will provide a common roadmap and shared language for the commitments made during the Global Forum on Refugees, with both processes rooted in the principles of solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility."

For more information, please contact:

In Mexico City: Silvia Garduno, [email protected], +52 1 55 55 2848 7440
In Panama City: Luiz Fernando Godinho, [email protected], +507.6356.0074