Product development. Manual of Procedures for identifying and assisting smuggled migrants and ensuring coordination between governmental authorities and civil society organizations

Institution: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Publication: 2017

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Smuggled migrants cross countries by train, sea, or on foot, in crowded trucks or vans, through highly violent areas. This constitutes a vulnerable situation that puts them at risk of assault, extortion, kidnapping, rape, human trafficking, and many other human rights violations. These groups are also victims of racism, xenophobia, and intolerance, particularly indigenous migrants.

Under the SOMMEX initiative (Smuggling of migrants in Mexico), consultancy services were provided for 24 months to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation and provide legal assistance services. Key activities consisted in creating links and setting up networks between governmental authorities (at state and federal levels), civil society organizations, and autonomous organizations to protect human rights, increase collaboration, and support efforts to identify and assist smuggled migrants in Mexico.

A “Manual of procedures for identifying and assisting smuggled migrants and ensuring coordination between government authorities, autonomous human rights agencies, and civil society organizations" was developed and launched at a press conference at the UN headquarters in Mexico City, Mexico, on 18 December 2017 — the International Migrants Day.

Ingrid Hernández-Ardieta Boix, CEO of COOPERA4DEVELOPMENT, at the UN press conference for the launch of the Inter-institutional Coordination Operational Manual to combat migrant smuggling, December 2017, UN Headquarters in Mexico City, Mexico