The dramatic increase in migration flows through Mexico's southern
border, the frequent reports of human rights violations of
irregular migrants and the trafficking of women and children
confirm the urgent need to discuss the current situation from a
human rights perspective and to suggest new policies and actions to
guarantee the rights of migrants in Mexican territory.

IOM and the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico (CNDH by
its Spanish acronym) are holding an international seminar to
discuss the impact of irregular migration and to stimulate
discussion amongst all sectors of society on the need to uphold the
human rights of migrants.

The two-day seminar, which gets underway on Monday, 22 October
in the southern city of Villahermosa in the State of Tabasco, will
bring together migration experts, national, state and local
government officials, civil society, NGOs, migration research
institutes, and human rights experts from Mexico and Central
American countries.

In 1980, Mexico's National Migration Institute returned 10,000
irregular migrants to their countries of origin.  In 2004,
2005, and 2006, the annual average of persons apprehended and
returned was 215,000.

In their effort to cross Mexico on their way to the United
States, a vast number of irregular migrants become victims of
extortion, assaults and all forms of abuse including the rape and
sexual extortion of female migrants.  The greatest risk to the
migrants is the proliferation of trafficking and smuggling networks
that prey on migrants, especially in Mexico's southern and northern
borders.

For further information please contact:

Juan Artola

IOM Mexico

Tel: +5255 5536 3922 / 3954

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