INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO PREVENT AND COMBAT CRIMINAL ACTIONS COMMITTED BY ORGANIZED TRANSNATIONAL CRIME AGAINST MIGRANTS Seminar-Workshop on Human Rights of Migrants Tegucigalpa, Honduras, February 10-11, 2011

I. Bases for International Cooperation In regard to the security of migrants, various fundamental principles have been established in our region: 1) Organized transnational crime as the primary threat to migrants. 2) Increasing shared challenges in face of a common enemy (not a matter which concerns only one country). 3) A challenge – that is also shared – to protect migrants. 4) International cooperation: an indispensable complement. 5) Shared responsibility, mutual trust, and respect for the jurisdiction of each country.

II. Bases of Mexican Cooperation Policy Mexico maintains a clearly defined position: 1) Actions based on the above stated principles. 2) Cooperation as the fundamental principle of foreign policy. 3) Mexico has emphatically condemned the abuse and crimes committed against migrants from third countries crossing Mexican territory on their northbound journey. 4) Mexico has reiterated that migrants, regardless of their migration situation, should enjoy the guarantees established in the law. 5) The Mexican Government has initiated decisive actions – at an internal level and in terms of cooperation – to assist victims and persecute perpetrators.

1)The comprehensive strategy to prevent and combat the abduction of migrants includes an international component highlighting the need for cooperation (developed before and submitted in August 2010). 2)Establishing a Group for Assistance and Follow-Up on Security with Central America (GASSCA) to develop forms, methods, and strategies to be implemented in dialogue and cooperation mechanisms between Central America and the US (January 5, 2011). III. Cooperation Actions

3)A comprehensive report on public policy to protect migrants on Mexican territory has been submitted to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (July 2010). ‐The report was prepared by a technical interinstitutional group from the Federal Government, with support from “El Colegio de la Frontera Norte” and FLACSO; ‐Includes actions being implemented and development of new federal and state policy; ‐Recognizes the essential contribution of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and the need for a comprehensive and systematic methodology for follow- up; and ‐Describes the existing legal and institutional framework, including specific information available to the State of Mexico relating to cases of abduction of migrants, seeking to develop tools to quantify the problem and evaluate the actions being implemented. III. Cooperation Actions

4)21 initiatives of the Ministerial Meeting on Organized Transnational Crime and Security of Migrants (October 8, 2010), relating to some of the aspects highlighted at this Seminar- Workshop, such as: ‐Intensifying dissemination and information campaigns oriented toward migrants, with the aim of informing about entities or civil society organizations that provide support and guidance and where crimes can be denounced or complaints can be submitted; ‐Further professionalizing staff from immigration control institutions and other authorities in charge of managing and enforcing immigration laws, and promoting training for judges, public prosecutors, and staff involved in public security in the region; ‐Promoting the establishment or strengthening of observatories and centres to carry out studies on migration in interested countries in the region and recommending that the aspect of the impact of organized transnational crime on migrants be incorporated into their efforts; ‐Taking advantage of the synergies between subregional, regional, and multilateral forums to include international cooperation into their efforts. III. Cooperation Actions

5)High-level binational groups and regional cooperation ‐High-Level Group on Security and Justice (GANSJ) with Colombia (April 6, 2001); ‐High-Level Group on Security (GANSEG) with Guatemala (July 2008 – the High-Level Group on Border Security (GANSEF) was established on June 13, 2002); ‐High-Level Group on Border Security (GANSEF) with Belize (June 28, 2005); ‐High-Level Group on Security and Justice (GANSJ) with Panama (January 16, 2009); ‐High-Level Group on Security (GANS) with Honduras (January 22, 2011); ‐High-Level Group on Security, Migration, and Justice with El Salvador, negotiations in process; ‐Incorporating Mexico into the Central American Integration System (SICA) as an observer (November 11, 2004). Dialogue on Democratic Security. III. Cooperation Actions

6)On January 12-13, 2011, The Sub-Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs led a high-level mission that visited Guatemala and Honduras, with the following results: -Points of contact were established to follow up on the 21 initiatives agreed on at the Ministerial Meeting held in October 2010; -It was agreed to jointly develop an assessment of the key characteristics of migration flows in the region; -The respective Ministries/Secretariats of Foreign Affairs were designated as focal points; -Efforts will be made toward developing a joint information and dissemination campaign oriented toward migrant populations, with the aim of informing them about their rights and duties and the potential risks they face, as well as the institutions where denouncements can be made or support and guidance can be received; -Mexico will accompany the countries from the Northern Triangle in their dialogue with collaborating countries or institutions (Donor Conference, to be held in June within the framework of the Central American Integration System - SICA).

-Efforts will be made to improve and strengthen instruments for legal assistance and extradition between both countries; -It was agreed to strengthen internal actions in the respective countries in order to ensure full respect for the human rights of migrants, regardless of their migration status. 7)On January 22, 2011, the First Meeting of the Mexico-Honduras High- Level Group on Security was held, with the following agreements: -To designate the respective Ministries/Secretariats of Foreign Affairs as focal points; -To advance implementation of the 21 initiatives of the course of action agreed on at the above-mentioned Ministerial Meeting held in Mexico on October 8, 2010, with the purpose of obtaining effective results in combating criminal actions against migrants.

-To jointly develop an assessment of the key characteristics of migration flows in the region; -To strengthen and develop mechanisms for direct communication between both countries in order to reaffirm mutual trust as the basis for bilateral cooperation in this matter; -To strengthen internal actions in the respective countries in order to ensure full respect for the human rights of migrants, regardless of their migration status; -To improve and strengthen instruments for legal assistance and extradition between both countries; -To develop a joint information and dissemination campaign oriented toward migrant populations, with the aim of informing them about their rights and duties and the potential risks they face, as well as the institutions where denouncements can be made or support and guidance can be received.

- To work together with their Financial Intelligence Units to identify transactions linked to extortion of migrants and migrant smuggling and trafficking; - The interest was expressed to sign a Memo of Understanding on Safe Information Exchange between the Attorney General’s Office and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, based on the respective current legislation; - The delegation of Honduras celebrated the guiding concepts of the current immigration bill that is being discussed by the Mexican Congress.

IV. Perspectives 1)On February 21-28, 2011, the high-level meetings with Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador will be followed up on. 2)On March, 28-29, 2011 the Mexico-Panama High-Level Group on Security and Justice will meet. 3)In April 2011 the Mexico-Guatemala High-Level Group on Security will meet. 4)In June 2011, Mexico will participate at the SICA Donor Conference. 5)GASSCA will meet on an ongoing basis.