Uruguay/Argentina - A two-day workshop for officials of the Ministry of Interior begins today in the city of Maldonado, Uruguay, on building the technical capacity of officials of the Ministry of Interior to face new migration challenges confronting the South American country.

After decades as a country of origin, Uruguay is now experiencing a reverse trend in international migration and is considered a destination country mainly for nationals from neighboring Brazil and Argentina, but also from countries in Latin American and the Caribbean, and as far away as Western Europe and Africa and Asia.

“Today, although the foreign born account for only 2.4 per cent of the 3.3 million population, it is an important trend for the country because migration patterns have shifted,” explained Alba Goycoechea, Head of the IOM Mission in Uruguay.

Argentina heads the list with 34 per cent  of the foreign born in Uruguay, followed by Brazil with 16 per cent; Paraguay with 2.3 per cent; Chile with 2.2 per cent; Peru with 1.9 per cent; Venezuela with 1.2 per cent; Colombia with 1.0 per cent; 0.5 per cent from Bolivia; and 0.4 per cent  from Ecuador.

The country is also seeing an increase in cases of human trafficking, including minors, women and men from the region but also from the Dominican Republic and China.  Many of these migrants enter through land borders linking Uruguay with Argentina and Brazil.

“All of these changes in migration flows prompted IOM and the Ministry of Interior to come together to provide training to officials who are at the frontlines and need the tools to identify these crimes and protect the rights of migrants,” said Goycoechea.

Eduardo Bonomi, Minister of Interior added: “Combating these crimes and upholding the human rights of migrants are at the top of our agenda.  This project is providing the knowledge needed for our frontline officials, but it is also having a domino effect as the officials trained can share what they have learned with others.”

The IOM-funded project also includes two exploratory studies on migration dynamics on the borders with Argentina and Brazil, and the development of training modules that will become part of the curriculum of the National Police Academy.

The first in the series of trainings was held last week in the city of Paysandú and brought together 80 officials to discuss human rights, human trafficking and migrant smuggling.  The third and last workshop will take place later this month in the city of Colonia.  The trainings are funded by IOM’s Development Fund (IDF).

For more information, please contact

Alba Goycoechea
IOM Uruguay
Email: agoycoechea@iom.int

or

Magdalena Mactas
IOM Buenos Aires
Tel: + 54 9 11 67 35 61 6
Email: mmactas@iom.int