More than 25 officials from the different countries of the region belonging to the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) and the South American Conference on Migration (SACM) participated in a workshop on "human rights and humanitarian action at international borders within the framework of the Humanitarian Border Security Unit" and were trained on humanitarian assistance and the protection of the rights of migrants.

The main objective of the workshop was to train government officials so that they can transmit this knowledge to those collaborators linked to the direct attention of the population in mobility and formalise migratory practices, tools and attitudes that guarantee the respect for human rights so that migration can occur in an orderly, safe and dignified manner for the benefit of all people.

The workshop spanned over 10 days, divided into two modules, and had the technical assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The first part, which took 5 days, was conducted through daily webinars and IOM's E-Campus online platform courses.

The second module was developed in person with 7 theoretical sessions, where the following topics were addressed:

1. Trends in international migration and legal frameworks for the protection of the human rights of migrants

2. Migrants in vulnerable situations

3. Introduction to human rights at international borders

4. Guarantee human rights in interception, rescue and immediate assistance

5. Human rights-based return

6. Avoid detention and inadequate detention conditions

7. Ensure human rights-based selection and interviewing

In addition, to commemorate the second anniversary of the Humanitarian Border Security Unit (USFROH) and complement the theoretical part of the workshop, on April 19 the participants visited the Temporary Migratory Reception Centres of Lajas Blancas and San Vicente in the province of Darien.

IOM presented a donation of four rigid rescue stretchers at the commemoration ceremony at the National Border Service headquarters in Metetí.

"Panama is respectful of international rights and we are an example of having a specialized human rights unit of the National Border Service in the province of Darien, through which security and humanitarian assistance is guaranteed to migrants who arrive at our three Temporary Migratory Reception Centres located in the province of Darien and in the province of Chiriquí," said Ivor Pitti, Deputy Minister of Public Security.

Ileen Lezcano, IOM Project Assistant in Panama, added that the Organization sees "with great joy the continuous development of USFROH, which for two years has complemented the security service in the province of Darien through preventive patrols, first aid, location and rescue of migrants stranded in the jungle, as well as humanitarian assistance to host communities."

These actions were carried out thanks to the support of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the United States Department of State.

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