Multi-stakeholder Pledge: Cartagena+40 – Chile Declaration and Plan of Action

Objective

To implement the Latin American and Caribbean ten-year strategy in the Chile Declaration and Plan of Action (2024-2034), a framework for cooperation and regional solidarity to strengthen the international protection of refugees, displaced and stateless personas and a regional implementation of the Global Compact for Refugees.

Key outcomes

By adopting the Chile Declaration and Plan of Action in December 2024, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean renewed their commitment for solidarity, protection and sustainable solutions for refugees, displaced people and stateless people in the region.

Key outcomes of implementing the programmes and recommendations contained in the Plan of Action include:

1. enhancing the fairness, efficiency, and integrity of national asylum systems;
2. implementing measures to prevent and reduce and eradicate statelessness in the region;
3. expanding opportunities for resettlement and family reunification;
4. enhancing financial and political support for voluntary return and sustainable reintegration of displaced persons;
5. expanding opportunities for integration, including employment, livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and inclusion in national social protection systems;
6. protecting forcibly displaced persons in the context of disasters.

Background

In 2024, Chile led the 40th anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees. This event provided a space to discuss current challenges and strategic priorities for protecting refugees, forcibly displaced and stateless persons in Latin America and the Caribbean. This landmark marked a new phase in the Cartagena Process, now called Cartagena+40, and concluded with the adoption of a new roadmap to enhance protection and solutions.

The Cartagena+40 multi-stakeholder pledge is a concrete application of the Global Compact for Refugees in the Americas, as it encourages regional cooperation among Latin American and Caribbean countries for greater solidarity and responsibility sharing in matters of protection, eradication of statelessness and durable solutions.

The Cartagena Declaration on Refugees, adopted in 1984, marked a significant milestone in Latin America's tradition of solidarity and asylum. It introduced a broadened definition of refugees, extending protection beyond the scope of the 1951 Convention. This led to the "Cartagena Process," with subsequent declarations every ten years, including the San José Declaration in 1994, assessing the importance of the Cartagena Declaration as a protection tool and the need to address the situation of internally displaced persons. In 2004, the Declaration and Plan of Action of Mexico to Strengthen the International Protection of Refugees in Latin America was updated including a ten-year Regional Action Plan that introduced pioneering Programs in protection and lasting solutions, such as Borders of Solidarity, Solidarity Resettlement, and Cities of Solidarity.

In 2014, the Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action, was adopted, with the participation, for the first time, of states and territories from the Caribbean. The ten-year roadmap, put into practice the principles of solidarity, international cooperation, and shared responsibility, later included in the 2018 Global Compact on Refugees. It incorporated statelessness as a new area of protection, alongside quality asylum and comprehensive, sustainable solutions.

In 2023, the Cartagena+30 initiative concluded, marking the end of a decade of implementing the Brazil Plan of Action (PAB). A Final Implementation Report of the Brazil Plan of Action was jointly delivered.

Since 2024, Chile has been leading the process towards the adoption of the Chile Declaration and Plan of Action in December 2024, ensuring continuity to the innovative and flexible framework set to strategically address the region's legal and humanitarian response on international protection and solutions.

Pledge description

All countries of Latin America and the Caribbean along with other stakeholders are invited to join the commitment to work together towards implementing the regional strategic Chile Plan of Action 2024-2034, to strengthen the international protection of refugees, displaced and stateless persons, and the regional implementation of the Global Compact for Refugees.

This plan establishes new areas of common interest for a coordinated response in a spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility as enshrined in the Global Compact on Refugees: Protection Needs Throughout the Displacement Cycle (Chapter 1); Comprehensive, Solidarity-based and Sustainable Solutions (Chapter 2); Protection in Situations of Forced Displacement Due to Disasters (Chapter 3).

The Chile Plan of Action establishes a Follow-up and Coordination Mechanism inviting all Latin American and Caribbean countries to work together, under the leadership of Chile, for an effective implementation of the Plan programmes and actions throughout the next decade.

Additionally, States from Latin America and the Caribbean are invited to link all pledges submitted in the 2023 GRF, to the Cartagena+40 multi-stakeholder pledge, as they include actions related to protection and solutions for asylum seekers, refugees, displaced persons and stateless persons in the region.

In the inclusive spirit of the Chile Plan of Action, all relevant stakeholders are called to play an important role in its implementation, through the Chile Plan of Action Support Platform.

Leadership

• Government of Chile

Supported by UNHCR as part of the Technical Secretariat.

Contact details / Contacto

C+40 Secretariat: [email protected]

Calendar

• July 2025: First Meeting of the Follow-Up and Coordination Mechanism for the Implementation of the Chile Plan of Action- agreement on priorities for each of its chapters and Programmes.
• September 2025: First Meeting of the Plan of Action Support Platform.