Lima – The United Nations, the UN Migration Agency (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have launched the Tu Causa es mi Causa campaign to strengthen solidarity, promote integration and mitigate xenophobia against Venezuelans in Peru.

The campaign was launched on 13 October in Lima, the main host city of Venezuelans in Peru. Parallel events took place in the border towns of Tumbes and Tacna.  

Almost half a million Venezuelans have arrived in Peru since 2016, of whom over 150,000 have sought refugee status and 108,000 have been regularized between 2017 and 2018 through the Temporary Residence Permit (PTP in Spanish).

While the generosity of the Peruvian government and people has been exemplary, the fight against xenophobia is a priority, as some 1,250 people continue to enter the country daily and discrimination is rising. 

A recent survey by the consultancy firm IPSOS supported by UNHCR (810 people interviewed) showed that one of every two Peruvians in Lima, Tumbes and Tacna had witnessed discrimination against Venezuelans. The same study, however, also revealed that over 75 per cent considered Peruvians as supportive of foreigners during their adaptation and integration process.

According to the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) implemented in Lima in January this year, 24.4 per cent of the Venezuelans interviewed claimed to have suffered discrimination. Of these, 88.6 per cent indicated that it was due to their nationality. The places where they felt discriminated were mostly public spaces (58 per cent), places of employment (36.1 per cent), and to a much lesser extent in their neighbourhood (3.5 per cent), among others.

In this context, UN, together with IOM and UNHCR designed the campaign Tu Causa es Mi Causa based on amplifying the already vibrant tradition of solidarity through tools and activities that allow Peruvians and Venezuelans to exchange ideas, knowledge and practices to build joint futures.

“The Tu Causa Es Mi Causa campaign calls to promote the culture of integration, nurturing the diversity and the benefits of migration,” said IOM Peru Chief of Mission José Iván Dávalos.

“The solidarity of countries in the region and its citizens towards Venezuelans has provided a crucial safety net for the most vulnerable. This builds on Latin America’s known practice to ensure protection and promote solutions to forced displacement and is in line with the responsibility-sharing imperative of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.”

“Hatred and violence initiated by a minority should not be allowed to undermine this tradition and concrete efforts. Therefore, initiatives such as the #TuCausaEsMiCausa campaign are crucial for supporting local work to strengthen inclusion,” added Sabine Wähning, UNHCR’s acting Representative in Peru.

As solidarity remains key, UN Agencies are taking additional steps to promote peaceful coexistence among local communities, refugees and asylum seekers so that the good work done to date is not undermined through the creation of solidarity campaigns such as Tu Causa es Mi Causa.

The Regional Representative for UNHCR for South America, Michele Manca Di Nissa, emphasized the campaign also means to present to the world the experience of Peru as an example of generosity and solidarity.

“The United Nations’ call to continue with local integration efforts to ensure that refugees and migrants can live in safety and dignity. In Peru and across the region, the UN System will remain committed to assist governments of all levels to ensure this context becomes an opportunity for development and for the strengthening of human rights for host communities, refugees and migrants,” said Maria del Carmen Sacasa, Resident Coordinator in Peru. 

In addition to UN Agencies, INGOs and civil society have also joined in the efforts to reduce the risks of marginalisation and radicalisation through the Tu Causa es Mi Causa campaign, which will continue to be implemented through different activities across the country.

To learn more about the campaign in Peru: https://tucausaesmicausa.pe/

For further information please contact Inés Calderon at IOM Peru, Tel: +511 633 0000 - Email: icalderon@iom.int