In the recent public hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in Cartagena, the Clamor Network to which Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean belongs, expressed its growing concern about restrictive and containment approaches in the region. These approaches violate International Refugee Law and International Humanitarian Law, forcing people to take dangerous routes and increasing their vulnerability to abuses and human rights violations.

During his intervention, Víctor Genina Director of Comprehensive Human Development of Caritas Internationalis, highlighted the low rate of recognition of refugees in the region, noting that this is due to the lack of institutional capacity and political will to comply with international commitments; stating that the non-implementation of adequate legal frameworks forces many people to live irregularly, which generates exploitation and trafficking.

Genina also highlighted that climate change and human-induced disasters are causing forced displacement, insisted on the need to include these causes in the expanded definition of refugee of Cartagena and emphasized the importance of a human rights-based approach and the full application of existing legal frameworks.

To strengthen the protection of refugees, Genina proposed several recommendations, including rejecting security and containment approaches, implementing effective integration policies, and ensuring civil society participation in the development and monitoring of action plans. These measures seek to ensure a coordinated and ethical response in emergency and rehabilitation situations.

Download the attached document to read Víctor Genina's complete intervention.