Argentina - IOM and the Avina Foundation have signed a cooperation agreement that will allow closer cooperation on issues of common interest on migration-related topics in Latin America.

The agreement includes priority and strategic areas for both organizations in the Latin American region including the protection of migrants’ rights; the fight against trafficking of persons and smuggling of migrants; migration, environment and climate change; migration and cities; labour migration; health and gender. It also includes areas such as regional integration, the generation and exchange of knowledge, and capacity building on international migration.

“For IOM it is a priority to further consolidate strategic partnerships with other organizations in the region to strengthen efforts to contribute both to the promotion and protection of human rights of migrants and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. This includes facilitating orderly, safe, regular and responsible through planned and well-managed migration policies. Avina Foundation brings a wealth of experience in many fields that can benefit the migration agenda in our region,” said IOM Regional Director for South America Diego Beltrand.

“We have always given priority to partner with institutions of the civil society with which we can work together to innovate and seek sustainable responses to the challenges posed by the migration flows in Latin America. This agreement with Avina is an important step in that direction,” said IOM Regional Director for Central America, North America and the Caribbean Marcelo Pisani.

Executive Director of the Avina Foundation Gabriel Baracatt noted that the identity of the region was built, and continues to be built, from encounters between peoples, economies, cultures, ethnicities and from diversity. “New perspectives are opening up to further enhance the success achieved by both organizations and their partners. Now, more than ever, is the time to recognize that migration is a fundamental component for more fair and inclusive societies,” he added.

The Avina Foundation was created in 1994 to promote sustainable development by creating favourable conditions for various actors to contribute together to the common good. It has a presence in 20 countries and works with a network of over 7,000 social and business partners for social change. Through its Program on Migration, Avina promotes the protection of the human rights of migrants by promoting migration policies that ensure integration, labor protection and access to justice.

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