The regional team for Migration, Displacement, Victims of Trafficking and Refugees of Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean organized a virtual discussion on the 21st to celebrate World Refugee Day. The event was a valuable opportunity to reflect on the situation of refugees in our region, in the context of Cartagena +40, and to exchange ideas and experiences on how we can support and promote their rights and dignity. Red Clamor and other organizations that work on the issue of human mobility were present.

At the opening of the conversation, Mons. Gustavo Rodríguez Vega, president of Cáritas LAC, greeted those present and highlighted that work with refugees is a ministry, a service that cannot be missing in the Church. Referring to the moment of prayer, with quotes from Pope Francis, Monsignor Gustavo pointed out the importance of thinking about this reality from the perspective of the incarnation.

When Jesus says he was a stranger, he means that he in person becomes present in each migrant and in each refugee, therefore, it is a mystery of continued incarnation. The incarnation is not only a passing event there in Nazareth, there in Jerusalem, but Jesus continues to incarnate day by day, with different expressions, but one of them that is very important in our time is in the person of migrants. There is Jesus!

Listening to the refugees

One of the strongest moments of the conversation was the testimonies of refugees, who shared their lives, challenges and progress, their reception in the countries and their current situation. The participants were able to listen to Ida Sandrea, a Venezuelan migrant who currently resides in Ecuador, Manuel Villeda Colón, a Salvadoran national, who is seeking refuge in Honduras, and Rima Alzarzouri, a Syrian refugee in Brazil, who is a pastoral agent for Cáritas.

Artistic moments also enriched the activity. Refugee Balvina, a migrant of Venezuelan nationality in Holland, toasted the participants with the song “Caminando”, of her own. Nicaraguan refugee Julio Cezar Soza, who found a home in Costa Rica, has shared the poem called Lo fatal, by Ruben Dario, which reflects the struggle and hope he carries in his heart.

Why is it relevant to participate in the Cartagena +40 process?

The political scientist and master at the National University of Colombia María Teresa Urueña, who is currently responsible for political advocacy in the Jesuit Network with Migrants for Latin America and the Caribbean (RJM-LAC) promoting the human rights of forced migrants. The expert nominated her talk Rumbo a Cartagena +40, clarifying what Cartagena is, an international protection instrument of a regional nature, which expands the definition of refuge going beyond the Geneva Convention and Protocol. "Cartagena, one of the things that it has, is that the recognition itself is something declarative, that is why it is called a declaration, it is the person who says that she is or is not a refugee. They are the ones who recognize themselves."

Urueña highlighted the process of reviewing the Cartagena Declaration every ten years, with the updating of the context, establishing regional priorities, formulating action plans, formulating national measures and strengthening the participation of civil society. The previous declarations were San José (1994), Mexico (2004), Brazil (2014) and very soon Cartagena+40 will be held in Colombia. The current challenges, especially, are poor implementation and little political will to protect, migration management based on containment, massive flows and new causes, in addition to the gray zone instrumentalized to restrict protection. Maria Teresa shared the main topics that arose in the preparatory consultations for Cartagena+40.

The second speaker of the conversation was the specialist in international migration and advocacy coordinator of Cáritas LAC, Víctor Genina presented the negotiation process as such. Dr. Víctor commented on the consultation phases that continue until July 2, where the Chilean government and UNHCR compile the proposals that governments, international organizations, civil society organizations and refugee organizations present and request that these points be incorporated into the declaration and the action plan. For Víctor, it is key that the Cáritas organizations, in coordination with the people who influence Red Clamor and represent the Network in this process, put together a position document with specific proposals to present to the Foreign Ministries of each country. “If we manage to put together this document, I think we can have the opportunity to influence the instructions that the foreign ministries are going to send to their negotiators in Geneva.”

At the end of the conversation, those present were able to share their wishes to the refugees from a cloud of words. Words such as protection, love, fraternity, solidarity, integration, hope, closeness, company among others stood out.

This event highlighted the importance of collective action and constant commitment to guarantee the rights of refugees. Together, we can make a significant difference and help build a more just and humane future for all.