IDC members and partners have contributed to national and regional advocacy that has resulted in important government commitments relating to the guarantee of the right to personal liberty in the Americas Region, including the Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action (2014).

The Brazil Plan of Action includes specific commitments to end the use of immigration detention of children, and implement alternatives to detention for people seeking asylum and others experiencing vulnerability. Last year, 2017 marked the third year of implementation of the Brazil Plan of Action and these important commitments.

In commemoration of this important anniversary, IDC collaborated with partners to develop both a Regional Report and national level report on Mexico to evaluate implementation of the Brazil Plan of Action in its first three years.

The reports include specific evaluation of commitments to eliminate immigration detention of children, develop ATD for asylum seekers and identification procedures in border zone and for vulnerable groups to improve access to alternatives.

The Mexico report was presented at a press conference in Mexico City and received significant media coverage, especially highlighting Mexico's inefficient protection of asylum seekers, despite the country's public commitments in international forums.

Press conference on Brazil Plan of Action
Press conference to present the National report on implementation of the Brazil Plan of Action in Mexico (February 19, 2018, Mexico City).
 

IDC's Program Officer for Mexico and Central America attended the presentation of the Regional Report at the Latina America and Caribbean Regional Consultation on the Global Compact for Refugees, held on February 19 and 20, 2018 in Brasilia.

Both reports contributed to dialogue for development of the main output of the consultation: a list of 100 points highlighting positive practices and experiences from the region to contribute to develop of the Global Compact for Refugees. Notably, these points include avoiding use of detention for asylum seekers and children, and expanding alternatives to detention that respond to individual needs and uphold the best interests of the child:

  • Point 10: Refraining from administrative detention of asylum-seekers for irregular entry, and/or stay
  • Point 11: The progressive implementation of alternatives to administrative detention of [migrants], asylum seekers, and refugees, through shelters, reception centers or other measures with due consideration of the specific needs of individuals, family unit and respect for human rights
  • Point 23: The development of unified registration systems between asylum and migration authorities in order to ensure interoperability of data, better management of asylum claims, protection of persons against detention and refoulement, as well as a faster documentation issuance
  • Point 77:  The establishment of a regional network of government officials to liaise on the protection of migrant and refugee children and adolescents in order to promote the implementation of standards and guarantees of access to the asylum procedure and the determination of their best interest, including the right not to be detained and the right to family unity
  • Point 80: The establishment of national protocols for the protection of unaccompanied asylum seeking children to promote family tracing and reunification, and foster care as alternatives to detention, in accordance with the best interest of the child
Civil society meeting for the Brazil Plan of Action
Civil society participants at the Regional Consultation in Brazil (19-20 February 2018, Brasilia)