The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Central
American Commission of Migration Directors (OCAM) confirmed this
week their commitment to strengthen migration management in Central
America.

In a series of high-level meetings held in El Salvador, national
coordinators of IOM in Central America and President pro-tempore of
OCAM, Rubén Alvarado, Director of Immigration from El
Salvador, presented their work teams for the regional project
"Support to Regional Integration through Strengthening Migration
Management in Central America," financed by the European Union.

The project, which has a budget of over one million Euros, will
improve the infrastructure for data collection at border areas, as
well as the exchange of information between countries.

It will also strengthen the technical capacity of officials in
the region involved in migration management, through training aimed
at improving cooperation and coordination among countries of
origin, transit and destination.

IOM Regional Coordinator for the Project, Norberto Girón,
noted the importance of taking the example of the European Union,
which managed to open its borders while ensuring security between
the countries.  "The experience of the European Union is
invaluable for Central America, as they set a precedent in
intra-regional migration discussions, as a source of information on
best practices and lessons learned in terms of regular migration
flows," said Girón.

"Improving regional migration management will, undoubtedly,
fortify the integration process in Central America, which has been
strengthened by the enactment of free movement of people between
the members of the CA4 countries," Giron added. (C4 countries
include: El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala).

Among the activities planned for the project are the development
of bi national workshops at border areas to bring together
stakeholders involved in the management of migration issues, like
officials, police and customs. 

Another component of the project is the improvement of the
infrastructure of CA4 countries in order to interconnect the
information systems and peripheral systems to strengthen border
control.

The project also provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable
migrants.  So far it has assisted 50 persons in Guatemala,
Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua to return to their countries of
origin based on their needs individual needs, i.e., victims of
trafficking, unaccompanied minors, and other vulnerable
migrants.

The project also promotes advances in the regional legal
framework for free movement of people in Central America.

For further information please contact: 

Yulissa Guevara

IOM El Salvador

Tel: +503.2521.0500 Ext. 27

Mobile: +503.7197.3184

E-mail: "mailto:pressiomsansalvador@iom.int">pressiomsansalvador@iom.int