Original: Spanish
Although Latin America and the Caribbean have made significant progress in the field of
international protection and the search for solutions, it is essential to continue such progress,
through a comprehensive and differentiated approach to age, gender and diversity and the
implementation of the highest human rights standards, to guarantee the protection of refugees,
displaced and stateless persons.
Mixed migratory movements in Latin America and the Caribbean are increasingly complex and stem
from a variety of causes. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of asylum‐
seekers and refugees in the region, including asylum‐seekers from other continents, often through
networks trafficking in persons and smuggling migrants. Among particularly vulnerable groups in the
context of mixed migration the following were highlighted: asylum‐seekers and refugees; victims of
trafficking in persons and smuggling; stranded migrants; women who are victims of violence; victims
of violence and psychological trauma suffered during the migration process or persons with
disabilities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (hereinafter referred to as
“LGBTI”); older persons; indigenous people; afro‐descendants; and other vulnerable people such as
pregnant women and accompanied and unaccompanied children.
In South America, significant progress has been made at both the normative and the political level,
with the aim of creating a common space for all citizens of the countries of the region. This
framework augurs well for the identification of innovative approach to the search for solutions for
refugees that should be developed so that they may become, in the near future, instruments of
solidarity.
Since 2004 there has been an increase in the number of refugees in the countries of the Andean
subregion. New political developments in Latin America and the Caribbean provide hope that ‐
during the term of this Plan of Action ‐ sustainable and fair solutions for the vast majority of this
population can be achieved; without detracting from the continuous attention that should be
focused on new situations of displacement.
In the Northern Triangle of Central America, displacement was observed of persons forced to escape
their community of origin due to, among other causes, transnational organized crime. In particular,
there has been a significant increase in the numbers of Guatemalan, Honduran and Salvadoran
citizens who leave their countries in search for international protection or who are displaced
internally owing to security reasons. These movements include significant numbers of accompanied
and unaccompanied children and women.
The Caribbean is a region of origin, destination and transit for thousands of migrants and displaced
persons, including people who may require international protection. The complexity of this
phenomenon, together with the characteristics of the countries of the region, requires a detailed
analysis to develop effective regional responses, within a rights‐based framework, with special
attention to the prevention of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, as well as to the
introduction of safeguards in refugee status determination procedures.
Although the principles of jus sanguinis and jus soli for the acquisition of nationality are enshrined in
the constitutions of most countries in the region, there are still some legislative gaps and omissions
in State practices to prevent statelessness. The phenomenon of migration in some countries of Latin
America and the Caribbean has led to a situation of thousands of persons, especially children, lacking
birth registration, with the risk of becoming stateless. There have also been cases of statelessness
linked to the situation of children of nationals born abroad. Although no precise statistics are
available, estimates of people at risk of becoming stateless in the region remain high.
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