As the world gathers to mark the 70th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights, it’s clear many are still fighting for those rights. In fact, 31 people are displaced every minute. Fleeing violence, gangs, conflict and poverty, people are seeking refuge where they can, while trying to build a better life for themselves and their families.
In the Americas, 43 out of 50 of the most murderous cities are cited to be in Latin America and the Caribbean. The frequency, intensity and organization of violence is causing experts to redefine how we distinguish between ‘armed conflict’ and other types of violence. It’s making life for people unbearable and forcing parents to make difficult choices — often resulting in children making dangerous journeys north.
So, more than 60 representatives of civil society, UN agencies and government joined recently in New York to examine progress on Preventing Irregular Migration in Central America and Mexico (PICMCA), a Christian Children’s Fund of Canada project, funded by Global Affairs Canada. The joint UNICEF and ChildFund Alliance (of which we are a member) event united experts to examine dangers faced by children and youth at risk of irregular migration, why it’s happening and how we can keep young people safe.
What was agreed:
- violence is one of the most pressing reasons people leave their home countries
- preserving family unity is crucial for children’s well-being and protection of their rights
- protecting and respecting human rights means acknowledging a zero tolerance for separating migrant children and adolescents from their families, which is in line with recent news that nearly 85 percent of countries at the United Nations (including Canada) backed a non-binding accord to ensure safe, orderly and humane migration.
- our PICMCA project is keeping children safe through preventative measures such as skills-training, safe spaces and policy-and-program changes in government
- With your help, we are making a difference, and I commend the young people who are part of the PICMCA project for working together to create a ‘culture of peace’ in the region.
Learn more, today.