Uruguay - Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), IOM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay agreed to a series of joint activities that contribute to the development of the migration policy in the country.

The lines of action set out in the MoU – signed this week by IOM’s Regional Director for South America Diego Beltrand, and the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs José Luis Cancela – are framed in the international, regional and national commitments on respect for human rights of migrants undertaken by the Uruguayan government.

The MoU includes, among others, the modernization of migration management, particularly the processing of residence, linkage programs with nationals abroad and consular management as well as the strengthening of the statistical information system and the support to the Technical Secretariat National Migration Board.

Likewise, the MoU includes technical support for the implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements within MERCOSUR, including the effective implementation of the Agreement on Residence for Nationals of States Parties of MERCOSUR.

Furthermore, measures are foreseen to promote training and awareness on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. In this topic, it is expected to work on the formulation of a draft of a comprehensive law against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in Uruguay.

In this regard, IOM’s Regional Director for South America, Diego Beltrand said that, for IOM, “It is an honor to help consolidate the Uruguayan migration policy, including the development of a comprehensive law against trafficking.” Beltrand also highlighted the significant progress made in recent years by the government in providing assistance to Uruguayans abroad and in granting residence to immigrants as well as other aspects of migration management.

Having been for many years country of origin of migrants, Uruguayan’s migration dynamic has been changing and consolidating as a destination country for migrants. Likewise, the return of Uruguayan nationals living abroad is increasing.

For further information, please contact Juliana Quintero at the IOM Regional Office in Buenos Aires, Tel. + (54) 11 5219 2033, Email: juquintero@iom.int