IOM Launches Campaigns to Prevent Irregular Migration in Mexico and Central America
San Jose- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is currently launching campaigns to prevent the risks of irregular migration and encourage informed decision making among potential young Central American migrants.
Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras have already presented their campaigns "Migrar Informados", "Echale ganas" and "Ponele plan a tu vida". El Salvador is currently preparing to launch the "Conectá con tu futuro" campaign for the month of September. All campaigns are based on IOM's experience in Asia with the hugely successful IOMX project, which used the Communication for Development (C4D) methodology.
The campaigns were developed based on the results of more than 2,000 interviews, coordination spaces with more than 100 local partners and the validation of the audience to which the campaigns are directed.
In Mexico, results showed that 97% of migrants in transit would make a great effort to obtain the documents needed to regulate their stay in the country, but 59% do not know which documents they need. In addition, 49% mentioned not knowing where to look for information to migrate in a regular way. In response to these needs, the Migrar Informados campaign seeks to raise awareness about the existence and benefits of migration regularization routes in Mexico.
In Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, initial research showed that more than 80% of people wish to receive information on regular migration channels and most would make an effort to get their documents for regular migration. In addition, between 59% and 70% of people interviewed would be willing to engage in local education, employment or entrepreneurship opportunities as an alternative to irregular migration. The campaigns "Ponele plan a tu vida" in Honduras, "Echale ganas" in Guatemala and "Conectá con tu futuro" in El Salvador, aim to make young people reflect on their life plans and consider information on alternatives to irregular migration.
Esteban Martínez Segovia, Head of Communications of El Salvador’s General Directorate of Migration stressed that “under this approach, more strategic communication plans can be promoted and aimed at achieving better results. Empathy with the communities is key to understanding the causes of migration, which, as we know, is evolving and adopting new forms.”
The campaigns are strengthened at the local level through a network of information points, integrated by organizations and institutions trained by IOM and government counterparts. This network will provide personalized attention, with information on regular migration and local opportunities for development. The amount of people interviewed who said they were willing to visit an information center on migration ranged from 81% to 89%, varying between countries.
Additionally, the campaigns promote the use of https://migrantinfo.iom.int/es, where users can find information about regular migration channels and opportunities for local learning, work and entrepreneurship. Internet use in the target audience of the campaigns range from 52% to 87%. In addition, the campaigns have created a digital community around information on migration on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@enlacolmena)
The campaigns are being implemented within the framework of the Western Hemisphere Program, with funding from the Office of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the United States State Department and the contribution of the Government of Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) under the Project Communicating Risks of Irregular Migration in Central America. Thanks to Canada's contribution, these efforts are being fostered to reach more communities in the upcoming months.
For more information, please contact Tatiana Chacón, at the IOM Regional Office for Central America, North America and the Caribbean, Tel: +506 8632 8527, Email: tchacon@iom.int.