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Guatemala is a gateway for refugees fleeing Central America and heading north to the United States. Hondurans and Salvadorans fleeing gang wars and high murder rates travel through Guatemala until they reach crossing points into Mexico. The route is hazardous, particularly for young people.
©UNHCR / Tito Herrera
In line with the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees and the CRRF, MIRPS countries have adopted national action plans that reflect their commitment to the protection and solutions for the displaced populations. The plans have the following objectives:
- Improve mechanisms for reception and admission
- Respond to immediate and persistent humanitarian and protection needs
- Support host countries and communities
- Enhance opportunities for durable solutions
MIRPS States have included a series of commitments organized by the following sectors:
1. Commitments on PROTECTION include:
- Strengthening the capacity to receive, identify, document and refer people of concern.
- Provide alternatives to detention for asylum seekers, and guarantee the principle of non-sanction for irregular entry.
- Humanitarian assistance and income-generating projects for refugees and asylum seekers.
- Reintegration programmes for returnees and legal counselling for people with protection needs in transit.
- Harmonization of laws, referral systems and protection services for children
2. Commitments on JOBS AND LIVELIHOODS include:
- Support host communities and strengthen the response and coordination with local actors, including civil society and private sector.
- Prioritize communities affected by violence within national development plans.
- Include refugees, returnees and displaced communities within existing programmes and promote specific public policies and self-reliance programmes
- Digital Consultation initiatives for Work Permits
- Intermediation for the inclusion of displaced populations in the labour market
3. Commitments on SOCIAL PROTECTION include:
- Optimize internal coordination, ensuring that displaced populations access all social services to which they are entitled
- Inclusion of displaced populations in national programmes for the reduction of poverty
- Establishment of protocols for the standardization of the assistance provided to refugees and asylum-seekers, especially for vulnerable populations such as women, children, elderly, refugees with problematic use of psychoactive substances
4. Commitments on EDUCATION include:
- Development and implementation of roadmaps for the protection of displaced children and adolescents in schools, and for at-risk teachers.
- Psychosocial care programs to mitigate the impact of violence, with children and adolescents in contexts of social violence and at risk of dropping out of school.
- Flexible requirements for academic training
5. Commitments on HEALTH include:
- Support to health infrastructure in host communities
- Provision of mental health services
- Design and implementation of information and awareness campaigns on the right of access to health for displaced persons, deportees in need of protection, refugees and asylum seekers.
Find here the complete MIRPS National Plans.
