Attachments
Together, we go further
One in three people on the move in Mexico express their desire to make the country their permanent home, a finding that is also reflected in the record number of asylum claims in 2023. With support from UNHCR, the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) has quadrupled its response capacity since 2018. However, challenges in consolidating its structure and operational capabilities persist, alongside the need for a sufficient budget that can accommodate the surge of claims of those in need of international protection.
This year, there were times when the number of new people arriving exceeded the capacities of shelters and services, in many cases reflecting policy changes of the United States. Without doubt, we will continue to see variations in arrival numbers, requiring a flexible response from UNHCR and our partners. I am confident that we are equipped to adapt to these changes.
We will continue to work with the government to expand protection for people, explore legal stay alternatives, and uphold the integrity of the asylum system. We will continue to attentively follow the concerns of the people we serve, the challenges they face in obtaining Mexican documentation and the lack of clear information about their options.
With the support of shelters, civil society, and religious organizations, we will continue to work at the frontline of the humanitarian response. It will be essential to strengthen referral pathways to basic services and work with relevant institutions to expand access to rights.
Over 600 companies committed to employ thousands of refugees, who have now joined the workforce, contributing to the country’s economy and forming the foundation on which we aim to further expand our Local Integration Programme. Together with our partners, we are now striving to broaden the financial inclusion of refugees.
Mexico’s proactive participation in regional initiatives, such as the MIRPS and the North Capital Forum, has been instrumental in enhancing the protection of forcibly displaced people and strengthening shared responsibility mechanisms between countries. At the Global Refugee Forum, the Mexican government committed to eight formal pledges focused on the protection and integration of asylum-seekers, refugees, and internally displaced people. This year, we look forward to the Cartagena+40 process, which aims at strengthening protection for those displaced, including for reasons related to the climate crisis. Mexico will host the consultation process on protection, advocating for solutions for refugees and addressing the structural causes of their displacement.
I am proud of the progress we have made through teamwork, not least thanks to the professionalism of our staff. None of this would have been possible without the coordinated and close partnership with authorities across all three levels of the government, civil society organizations, UN agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, and especially, the refugees and internally displaced people themselves. The dedication and determination of all involved fuel every step we take, demonstrating that together, we go further.
Giovanni Lepri
Representative
March 2024