Training professionals on how to address migration with a human rights approach was the objective of the diploma course on Integrated Border Management with a Human Rights approach, implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support of the Government of Canada, through the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The course, which ended on October 11, 2023, focused on the training of national-level and local border government officials responsible for addressing and responding to migration-related issues. It consisted of six modules that ranged from the human rights of migrants and people in need of international protection to the understanding of migration processes and statistics.

The closing ceremony of the diploma course brought together 49 officials from various government institutions, including the Ministry of Labour and Professional Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Women, the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and the Family, the National Institute of Statistics and Census, the National Border Service, and the National Migration Service.

Prior to graduation, participants submitted project proposals related to migration from a human rights perspective and in line with the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The National Border Service team from Darien obtained the best score of the final projects nationwide.

Also, during the closing ceremony, the dedication and commitment of each of the group leaders was recognized, without whom the course would not have been successful. Among them was José Paladín of the National Migration Service in Chiriqui, Jorge Gutiérrez of the National Border Service in Panama, and Edilsa González of the Ministry of Social Development in Darién.

Among the attendees of the event were Juan Manuel Pino, Minister of Public Security, members of the Board of Directors of ISAE University and other authorities such as Katya Heron, Secretary General of the Ministry of Women; Graciela Mauad, Director General of the Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family; Thays Noriega, Director of the Office of Student Affairs and Technical Cooperation of the Ministry of Health; Hilda Martínez, Deputy Director of Sociodemographics of the National Institute of Statistics and Census; Jorge Luis Gobea, Director General of the National Border Service; Luis Carlos Rey, Institutional Deputy Director of Teaching of the National Migration Service; Anais de González, Deputy Director of the Bolívar Commercial Institute and Elmer Miranda, Executive Secretary of the National Secretariat for the Food and Nutritional Security Plan of the Ministry of Social Development.

This graduation marks a milestone in the training of professionals on addressing migration and on comprehensive border management with a human rights approach in the Republic of Panama.

For more information, contact IOM Panama's communications team via iompanama@iom.int.