Central America is one of the most dynamic migratory corridors in the world. Migrants that come from as far away as Africa and Asia pass through this region; from countries in neighboring regions such as Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela; migrants who leave the countries of northern Central America and Mexico seeking to enter the United States; Nicaraguans who arrive in Costa Rica and Ngäbe Bugle Indians who move from Panama, many of whom go to work in the coffee harvest and then return to their regions of origin.

In a context as varied as this, to address xenophobia in a structural way and with a vision that is sustained over time, it is necessary to incorporate an approach against discrimination from education and at an early age, which facilitates the creation of multicultural, more equitable and open societies.

However, we also need immediate answers and proposals that counteract misinformation and xenophobia, whilst strengthening the flow of true information. If we intend for communication to become an effective channel for this fight, it must be accompanied by a scaffolding that facilitates the proper governance of migration.

Communication is a powerful tool to raise public awareness about the benefits of migration and to demystify xenophobic lies about migrants. Information campaigns should respond to specific contexts, building messages with migrants and their host communities: ensuring that they have the opportunity to tell their stories.

Knowledge about the rights of migrants can also be strengthened in other areas, such as through legal, social, health, and other sectors. In that sense we have identified 3 factors that strengthen the fight against xenophobia and that must work hand in hand with communication:

  • Legal frameworks that promote regular, orderly and safe migration. The imposition of restrictive measures to irregular migration without generating regular migration alternative, in many cases result in the creation of scenarios that place migrants in situations of even greater vulnerability, such as people smuggling or human trafficking. A 2015 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) states that legislation which criminalizes irregular migration can increase the vulnerability of migrants to potential racism and xenophobia, and even indirectly result in violence against them.
  • Spaces that promote collaboration between the different institutions of government, civil society, private companies, international cooperation and migrants, so that migration challenges and opportunities are approached from a more comprehensive view of the context, thus reducing the risk of stigmatization. According to the Salvador Declaration (agreed upon by the Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Salvador, Brazil in 2010), an integrated approach to migration governance is essential in ensuring the prevention of xenophobia and crimes committed against migrants.
  • Access to services and programmes that respond to the needs of migrants, based on technical studies that allow establishing the real capacity of labour markets and their opportunities for growth, as well as the capacity of education and health systems to provide services. Social integration benefits both groups, by providing greater opportunities to migrants and allowing them to fully participate in, and contribute to, their countries of destination. A lack of measures to facilitate the integration of migrants can lead to strained relationships and animosity between migrants and host communities.

Creating holistic and collaborative policies that proactively respond to migration flows is a crucial aspect in the fight against xenophobia. This allows States to maximize the benefits migration whilst reducing migrants’ vulnerabilities and preemptively addressing hostility in host communities.

SDG 10 - REDUCCIÓN DE LAS DESIGUALDADES