Diapositiva 1

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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO PREVENT AND COMBAT
CRIMINAL ACTIONS COMMITTED BY ORGANIZED
TRANSNATIONAL CRIME AGAINST MIGRANTS
Seminar-Workshop on Human Rights of
Migrants Tegucigalpa, Honduras, February 10-11,
2011
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I. Bases for International Cooperation

• In regard to the security of migrants, various
  fundamental principles have been established in
  our region  
• Organized transnational crime as the primary
  threat to migrants.
• Increasing shared challenges in face of a
  common enemy (not a matter which concerns only
  one country).
• A challenge that is also shared to protect
  migrants.
• International cooperation an indispensable
  complement.
• Shared responsibility, mutual trust, and
  respect for the jurisdiction of each country.

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II. Bases of Mexican Cooperation Policy

• Mexico maintains a clearly defined position 
• Actions based on the above stated principles.
• Cooperation as the fundamental principle of
  foreign policy.
• Mexico has emphatically condemned the abuse and
  crimes committed against migrants from third
  countries crossing Mexican territory on their
  northbound journey.
• Mexico has reiterated that migrants, regardless
  of their migration situation, should enjoy the
  guarantees established in the law.
• The Mexican Government has initiated decisive
  actions at an internal level and in terms of
  cooperation to assist victims and persecute
  perpetrators.

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III. Cooperation Actions

• The comprehensive strategy to prevent and combat
  the abduction of migrants includes an
  international component highlighting the need for
  cooperation (developed before and submitted in
  August 2010).
• Establishing a Group for Assistance and Follow-Up
  on Security with Central America (GASSCA) to
  develop forms, methods, and strategies to be
  implemented in dialogue and cooperation
  mechanisms between Central America and the US
  (January 5, 2011).

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III. Cooperation Actions

• A comprehensive report on public policy to
  protect migrants on Mexican territory has been
  submitted to the Inter-American Human Rights
  Commission (July 2010).
• The report was prepared by a technical
  interinstitutional group from the Federal
  Government, with support from El Colegio de la
  Frontera Norte and FLACSO
• Includes actions being implemented and
  development of new federal and state policy
• Recognizes the essential contribution of the
  National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and the
  need for a comprehensive and systematic
  methodology for follow-up and
• Describes the existing legal and institutional
  framework, including specific information
  available to the State of Mexico relating to
  cases of abduction of migrants, seeking to
  develop tools to quantify the problem and
  evaluate the actions being implemented.

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III. Cooperation Actions

• 21 initiatives of the Ministerial Meeting on
  Organized Transnational Crime and Security of
  Migrants (October 8, 2010), relating to some of
  the aspects highlighted at this Seminar-Workshop,
  such as
• Intensifying dissemination and information
  campaigns oriented toward migrants, with the aim
  of informing about entities or civil society
  organizations that provide support and guidance
  and where crimes can be denounced or complaints
  can be submitted
• Further professionalizing staff from immigration
  control institutions and other authorities in
  charge of managing and enforcing immigration
  laws, and promoting training for judges, public
  prosecutors, and staff involved in public
  security in the region
• Promoting the establishment or strengthening of
  observatories and centres to carry out studies on
  migration in interested countries in the region
  and recommending that the aspect of the impact of
  organized transnational crime on migrants be
  incorporated into their efforts
• Taking advantage of the synergies between
  subregional, regional, and multilateral forums to
  include international cooperation into their
  efforts.

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III. Cooperation Actions

• High-level binational groups and regional
  cooperation
• High-Level Group on Security and Justice (GANSJ)
  with Colombia (April 6, 2001)
• High-Level Group on Security (GANSEG) with
  Guatemala (July 2008 the High-Level Group on
  Border Security (GANSEF) was established on June
  13, 2002)
• High-Level Group on Border Security (GANSEF) with
  Belize (June 28, 2005)
• High-Level Group on Security and Justice (GANSJ)
  with Panama (January 16, 2009)
• High-Level Group on Security (GANS) with Honduras
  (January 22, 2011)
• High-Level Group on Security, Migration, and
  Justice with El Salvador, negotiations in
  process
• Incorporating Mexico into the Central American
  Integration System (SICA) as an observer
  (November 11, 2004). Dialogue on Democratic
  Security.

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1. On January 12-13, 2011, The Sub-Secretary for
   Latin America and the Caribbean of the Mexican
   Secretariat of Foreign Affairs led a high-level
   mission that visited Guatemala and Honduras, with
   the following results

• Points of contact were established to follow up
  on the 21 initiatives agreed on at the
  Ministerial Meeting held in October 2010
• It was agreed to jointly develop an assessment of
  the key characteristics of migration flows in the
  region
• The respective Ministries/Secretariats of Foreign
  Affairs were designated as focal points
• Efforts will be made toward developing a joint
  information and dissemination campaign oriented
  toward migrant populations, with the aim of
  informing them about their rights and duties and
  the potential risks they face, as well as the
  institutions where denouncements can be made or
  support and guidance can be received
• Mexico will accompany the countries from the
  Northern Triangle in their dialogue with
  collaborating countries or institutions (Donor
  Conference, to be held in June within the
  framework of the Central American Integration
  System - SICA).

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• Efforts will be made to improve and strengthen
  instruments for legal assistance and extradition
  between both countries
• It was agreed to strengthen internal actions in
  the respective countries in order to ensure full
  respect for the human rights of migrants,
  regardless of their migration status.
• On January 22, 2011, the First Meeting of the
  Mexico-Honduras High-Level Group on Security was
  held, with the following agreements
• To designate the respective Ministries/Secretariat
  s of Foreign Affairs as focal points
• To advance implementation of the 21 initiatives
  of the course of action agreed on at the
  above-mentioned Ministerial Meeting held in
  Mexico on October 8, 2010, with the purpose of
  obtaining effective results in combating
  criminal actions against migrants.

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• To jointly develop an assessment of the key
  characteristics of migration flows in the region
  
• To strengthen and develop mechanisms for direct
  communication between both countries in order to
  reaffirm mutual trust as the basis for bilateral
  cooperation in this matter
• To strengthen internal actions in the respective
  countries in order to ensure full respect for the
  human rights of migrants, regardless of their
  migration status
• To improve and strengthen instruments for legal
  assistance and extradition between both
  countries
• To develop a joint information and dissemination
  campaign oriented toward migrant populations,
  with the aim of informing them about their rights
  and duties and the potential risks they face, as
  well as the institutions where denouncements can
  be made or support and guidance can be received.

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- To work together with their Financial
Intelligence Units to identify transactions
linked to extortion of migrants and migrant
smuggling and trafficking- The interest was
expressed to sign a Memo of Understanding on Safe
Information Exchange between the Attorney
Generals Office and the Public Prosecutors
Office, based on the respective current
legislation - The delegation of Honduras
celebrated the guiding concepts of the current
immigration bill that is being discussed by the
Mexican Congress.

•  

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IV. Perspectives

•  

1. On February 21-28, 2011, the high-level meetings
   with Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador will be
   followed up on.
2. On March, 28-29, 2011 the Mexico-Panama
   High-Level Group on Security and Justice will
   meet.
3. In April 2011 the Mexico-Guatemala High-Level
   Group on Security will meet.
4. In June 2011, Mexico will participate at the SICA
   Donor Conference.
5. GASSCA will meet on an ongoing basis.