IOM and Mexico's National Migration Institute are this week
launching a project to document best migratory practices in Mexico
through a publication and a video documentary.

The book and video, based on background information, interviews,
photographs and testimonies, will focus on the work of two specific
programmes: the Grupos Beta and the Programa Paisano.

The Mexican Government will present the findings at this year's
Global Forum on Migration and Development scheduled to take place
in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in November 2010. 

They will share experiences and encourage their replication in
other countries with the same migration realities as Mexico: a
country of origin, transit and destination.

The project will also identify areas in need of strengthening
and recommend possible modifications to the training modules
currently used by the Grupo Beta and Programa Paisano staff.

"Mexico has a long history as a country of origin, transit and
destination of migrants from the region and beyond, and in the past
years has increased the services it provides to migrants. 
Many of these services, such as the Grupos Beta and the Programa
Paisano are unique in the world and deserve to be promoted as best
practices in migration management," explained IOM Mexico Chief of
Mission, Dr. Thomas Lothar Weiss.

The Grupos Beta focus is saving migrants' lives along the
northern and southern border, and the entire migration route north
carrying out rescue missions, providing medical and legal
assistance, and informing migrants of their rights and possible
dangers along the way.

During 2009 the 16 Grupos Beta along the southern and northern
border assisted more than 230,000 migrants of different
nationalities.  In the past three years IOM has worked in
close coordination with the Grupos Beta providing training to
counter human trafficking and on human rights of migrants.

The Programa Paisano was created in 1989 in order to strengthen
inter-institutional coordination to provide better services to
Mexican nationals returning to Mexico and thus eliminate abuses and
extortions which were common during the holiday season in the 1980s
when thousands of Mexicans crossed the border from the US to visit
family.

The 15-month initiative is funded by IOM's 1035 Facility which
provides special support to IOM Developing Member States and Member
States with Economy in Transition to develop and implement joint
government–IOM projects to address particular areas of
migration management.  Since 2001, the Facility has supported
over 300 projects and has benefited over 85 Member States.

For more information, please contact:

Pedro Lopez

IOM Mexico

Tel: +52 55 5536 3922

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