Integración y Familia: Ejes de una nueva Política Migratoria

XV Regional Conference on Migration about the Topic of Migration and Family

GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF MIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION OF COSTA RICA

Integration and Family: Integration and Family: Core Elements of a Core Elements of a

New Migration PolicyNew Migration Policy

The Human Development Report 2009, The Human Development Report 2009, “Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and “Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development” published by UNDP, states that the Development” published by UNDP, states that the proportion of persons migrating to developed proportion of persons migrating to developed countries has increased significantly in the past 50 countries has increased significantly in the past 50 years and that this trend is associated to an years and that this trend is associated to an increasing gap in terms of opportunities.increasing gap in terms of opportunities.

On the other hand, the report confirms, in accordance On the other hand, the report confirms, in accordance with its scope of research, that persons migrate with its scope of research, that persons migrate motivated by the possibility of improving their access motivated by the possibility of improving their access to employment, education, civil and political rights, to employment, education, civil and political rights, security, and health. The report provides data which – security, and health. The report provides data which – paradoxically, considering the social perception of the paradoxically, considering the social perception of the disadvantages of the phenomenon of migration – show disadvantages of the phenomenon of migration – show that most migrants end up enjoying better conditions that most migrants end up enjoying better conditions (much better, in some cases) than the previous living (much better, in some cases) than the previous living conditions in their country of origin.conditions in their country of origin.

REFLECTION

•Our public policies need to be reviewed, which Our public policies need to be reviewed, which definitely are the policies encountered by people definitely are the policies encountered by people

traveling within our borders…traveling within our borders…

•Appropriately designed public policies are essential for Appropriately designed public policies are essential for migrants and for the communities of origin they leave migrants and for the communities of origin they leave

and for members of the receiving communities…and for members of the receiving communities…

We are aware that the effectiveness in the governance We are aware that the effectiveness in the governance of migration policies basically depends on the of migration policies basically depends on the objectivity of the knowledge about the phenomenon of objectivity of the knowledge about the phenomenon of migration. It was considered necessary to do research migration. It was considered necessary to do research to learn about the existing requirements for to learn about the existing requirements for implementing integration policies in Costa Rica, in implementing integration policies in Costa Rica, in order to develop a theoretical foundation to facilitate order to develop a theoretical foundation to facilitate the establishment of clear and realistic objectives for a the establishment of clear and realistic objectives for a migration integration policy. The objectives will enable migration integration policy. The objectives will enable an effective administrative management of the policy. an effective administrative management of the policy.

IMPLEMENTED ACTIONS

DGME was able to establish a migration platform DGME was able to establish a migration platform under the title of “Migration and Integration in Costa under the title of “Migration and Integration in Costa

Rica: Current Status and Trends”. The platform Rica: Current Status and Trends”. The platform allows addressing the phenomenon underlying each allows addressing the phenomenon underlying each

family group experiencing migration in a direct or family group experiencing migration in a direct or indirect manner.indirect manner.

MIGRATION, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND INTEGRATION

A review of the areas of highest comparative A review of the areas of highest comparative vulnerability and the relevant legal framework vulnerability and the relevant legal framework

constitute the basis for the strategies developed by constitute the basis for the strategies developed by DGME to establish institutional synergies and joint DGME to establish institutional synergies and joint

actions aimed at addressing the integration of migrant actions aimed at addressing the integration of migrant and refugee populations into Costa Rican society. and refugee populations into Costa Rican society.

CONTEMPORARY INTEGRATION POLICIES

Another element which is required in establishing a Another element which is required in establishing a national public policy model to promote the integration national public policy model to promote the integration

of national, migrant, and refugee populations is of national, migrant, and refugee populations is analyzing how other States receiving migration flows analyzing how other States receiving migration flows

have developed such incorporation mechanisms.have developed such incorporation mechanisms.

MIGRATION PROMOTION AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION POLICIES

Contributions relating to matters of integration by Contributions relating to matters of integration by enterprises, educational institutions, and civil society enterprises, educational institutions, and civil society

organizations in general have been strengthened, with organizations in general have been strengthened, with full respect for the rights of migrant and refugee full respect for the rights of migrant and refugee

populations.populations.

ACTIONS TOWARD INTEGRATION IMPLEMENTED IN COSTA RICA

A wealth of actions relating migration integration are A wealth of actions relating migration integration are being implemented by public institutions and non-being implemented by public institutions and non-

governmental faith-based and voluntary organizations governmental faith-based and voluntary organizations in the country – particularly and fundamentally by civil in the country – particularly and fundamentally by civil

society organizations.society organizations.

THANK YOU