Central American migratory movement

Context

In recent years, the nature of South-North migration in the Americas has considerably evolved. A growing number of families and unaccompanied minors are fleeing violence, high rates of crime and natural disasters, turning what was previously considered as principally economic migration into a full-scale humanitarian crisis.

Mexico - the main transit country to the North - has introduced humanitarian visas for victims of violence and has eased public policies for asylum seekers. In 2017, 14,596 people applied for asylum in Mexico, an increase of 66% compared to the previous year. There is also a diversification of migrants’ regions of origin, which today include the Caribbean, South America and Africa.

These people are particularly exposed and often lack access to crucial information that is vital to strengthen their security and make their rights accessible.

Implementation

Télécoms Sans Frontières has been working alongside its partner FM4 Paso Libre, coordinating the organisation of the REDODEM - Red de Organizaciones Defensoras de Migrantes (Network of Migrant Defence Organisations) to set up this information diffusion system.

This system has been installed in 56 strategically identified centres in Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala.

Information diffusion system

Through its involvement in several protection and assistance projects, TSF has demonstrated that environmental factors such as location and context are a central element for an appropriated response to the needs of exposed populations.

For this specific context, TSF has developed a connected information diffusion solution designed around three criteria:

• Universality (compatibility with conventional TV screens regardless of the country of implementation);
• Low bandwidth consumption which can be optimised for satellite, 2G, 3G;
• Deployable on a large scale through a unified online information management platform.

The solution consists of a network of micro-computers connected through the internet to a central server. The information is transmitted to the devices in real time. Each device is connected to an information screen strategically located in each centre in congruence with the assistance process of the partner institution.

TSF’s objective is to enable the dissemination of reliable and regularly updated information concerning important issues on:

• Their rights and duties;
• The institutions providing help along the route and the services they offer;
• Practical information (security, legal information, weather, health, etc.);
• Asylum procedures;
• News alerts.

The solution developed allows for informed decision-making and, consequently, helps to reduce the vulnerability of those fleeing violence, while strengthening the coordination of institutions seeking to serve them.

The source of this information is provided by international and national organisations involved in the management of migration crises such as the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), FM4 Paso Libre, Centro PRO Derechos Humanos and Médecins Du Monde. The administrator of the system, supported by TSF, remotely ensures a regular update of content from the FM4 centre.

Testimonies

“Migrants in general are significantly unaware of Mexican law when they arrive… they are very vulnerable regarding their human rights… it is also important for them to know where to go to receive healthcare, which is the route to get to a medical centre or a hospital.” – Juan Carlos, manager of the shelter in Tapachula

“The content is very easy to understand, with a simple language and the pictures are attractive so that people don't get bored when reading.” – Daniela, CAFEMIN shelter manager

“The screen helped me to ask for refuge, to know my rights as a migrant and to know the location of the consulate of El Salvador.” – 19 year-old Salvadoran migrant