Training Workshop on the “Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children”

Training Workshop on the “Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children”

Yesterday, 21 November the first stage was launched in the city of Guatemala of the training workshop on the “Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children”, organized by the IIN and the Social Welfare Secretariat (SBS, in Spanish) of the Republic of Guatemala, for civil servants who participate in the migration circuit. The second training stage will take place from 28 November to 1 December in the same city.

This first stage (from 21 to 23 November) is of a general nature and will address basic concepts with regard to child rights and, specifically, the rights of migrant children, the migration phenomenon, the situation of Guatemala and the profile of migrant children. There will be a special emphasis on the outlook for government institutions, as well as for social organizations, academia and the Church, with relation to this subject.

During the opening of the workshop, the welcome address was given by Otto Rivera, of the SBS, Anahí­ Alarcón, of the IIN, and Irene Palma of the Central American Institute for Social Studies and Development (INCEDES, in Spanish), the institution which is facilitating this training.

During the first working day, a review was carried out of the different approaches to child rights throughout history, with particular emphasis on key aspects of the current paradigm, such as the best interest of the child. In addition, participants were divided into working groups and analysed possible structural causes leading to the migration of children. They identified poverty, family breakdown, the economic crisis and the desire to improve their living conditions and rejoin their families, amongst others.

At this first stage, 27 people are taking part, including officials from different State institutions: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Directorate for Migration, the National Civil Police from Central Headquarters and the Police Departments of Quetzaltenango and San Marcos the Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons, the National Commission for the Care of Migrants in Guatemala, the National Board for Migrations of Guatemala, the National Childhood Commission, and the Presidency Social Welfare Secretariat.

The workshop is taking place as part of the project on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children, implemented by the IIN with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID).