Memories of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees

177 Pages·2015·7.5 MB·Portuguese

ii iii
MeMories
of the thirtieth
AnniversAry
of the CArtAgenA
DeClArAtion
on refugees
memories
“The Latin America and Caribbean region has shown a truly exceptional collabora-
tive spirit throughout the Cartagena+30 Process, setting an example for other regions
of the world. At a time when conflict, persecution and violence have driven more
people from their homes than at any other time in recorded history, it is my hope that
this collection of key moments of the commemorations process will serve as an in-
spiration to others in their efforts to protect the rights of the forcibly displaced. May
these memoirs also guide future generations of citizens and decision-makers, so that
one day, anniversaries can focus on celebrating the present: a present made of rights,
respect and equity for all.”
António Guterres
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
2015
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares
1
CONTENTS
www.unhcr.org
Preface
Marta Juárez, Director of unhcr’s Regional Bureau for the Americas 6
IntroductIon
António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 9
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of the “cartagena+30” Process for commemoratIng
the 30th annIversary of the cartagena declaratIon on refugees of 1984 11
InformatIon PaPer 12
the long road toWards the humanIsatIon of InternatIonal laW:
a neW decade of consultatIons of the unIted natIons hIgh commIssIoner
for refugees (unhcr) (FRoM MexiCo 2004 to BRAsiliA 2014)
Professor Antônio Cançado trindade 18
II the cartagena+30 subregIonal consultatIons 35
mercosur subregIonal consultatIon (BUeNos AiRes, 18 - 19 MARCH, 2014)
• Agenda 38
• Discussion Paper 42
• Conclusions and Recommendations 62
• Position of Civil society 72
MeMories of the thirtieth AnniversAry andean subregIonal consultatIon (QUito, 9 - 10 JUNe, 2014)
of the CArtAgenA DeClArAtion
“InternatIonal ProtectIon, durable solutIons, and InternatIonal cooPeratIon”
on refugees / 1984-2014
• Agenda 88
Quito, Ecuador 2015 • Discussion Paper 92
• Conclusions and Recommendations 104
isbn: 978-9942-8511-4-7 • Position of Civil society 112
© United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2015.
This document is published for general distribution. All rights reserved.
This document may be freely reproduced and translated, in part or entirely
(except for commercial purposes) acknowledging unhCr as the source.
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” iv 1 VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares
22 33
PROGRAMME
Guatemalan refugees at la Hamaca. Mexico. ©unhcr / m. vanappelghem / d. bregnard
mesomerIca subregIonal consultatIon (MANAGUA, 10 - 11 JUly, 2014) v. adoPtIon by acclamatIon of the brazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon
“InternatIonal ProtectIon challenges and oPPortunItIes • speech by the National secretary of Justice and President of Brazil’s National Refugee Committee, Paulo Abrão 264
for a neW strategIc frameWork for regIonal cooPeratIon” • Brazil Declaration: “A Regional Cooperation and solidarity Framework for strengthening the international
• Agenda 128 protection of Refugees, and Displaced and stateless Persons in latin America and the Caribbean.” 270
• Discussion Paper 132 • Brazil Plan of Action: “A Common Roadmap for strengthening Protection and Promoting sustainable
• Conclusions and Recommendations 160 solutions for Refugees, and Displaced and stateless Persons in latin America and the Caribbean within
• Position of Civil society 172 a Framework of Cooperation and solidarity.” 278
carIbbean subregIonal consultatIon (GRAND CAyMAN, 10 - 11 sePteMBeR, 2014) vI. closIng ceremony
“mIxed mIgratIon and the ProtectIon of refugees and stateless Persons” • Words of thanks from the Director of unhcr’s Regional Bureau for the Americas, Marta Juárez 294
• Agenda 188 • speech by the Representative of the Norwegian Refugee Council, enrique torella 298
• Discussion Paper 192 • Closing statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres 302
• Conclusions and Recommendations 210 • speech by the Assistant secretary-General for Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Position of Civil society 218 of the Federal Republic of Brazil, Carlos Antonio da Rocha 306
III. mInIsterIal meetIng commemoratIng the 30th annIversary of vII. PartIcIPants 310
the cartagena declaratIon on refugees (BRAsiliA, 2 - 3 DeCeMBeR, 2014) 227
ePIlogue
oPenIng ceremony • Carlos Maldonado, Coordinator of “Cartagena+30”, unhcr 318
• Agenda 228
vIII. aPPendIces
• inaugural Address by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Brazil,
• 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees 325
luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado 232
• 1994 san Jose Declaration on Refuges and Displaced Persons 330
• speech by the Minister of the special secretariat for Policies on Women, eleonora Menicucci 236
• 2004 Mexico Declaration and Plan of Action to strengthen the international Protection
• speech by the Brazilian Minister of Justice, eduardo Cardozo 240
of Refugees in latin America 336
• speech by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres 244
• 2010 Brasilia Declaration on the Protection of Refugees and stateless Persons in the Americas 348
• speech by the executive secretary of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan egeland 248
• speech by the Brazilian Civil society Representative, Cândido da Ponte Feliciano Neto 252
Iv. the Path to cartagena
• Civil society’s Presentation on the Cartagena+30 Consultations by the latin American
and Caribbean Civil society Representative, sally valladares 258
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares
4 5
unhcr’s Quick impact Projects (qips) include the
funding of small business ventures, e.g. handicrafts
and textile production.
These returnee women show the traditional clothes
they propose to make for sale. La Esmeralda, Peten.
©unhcr / r. arriola
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares
66 77
PREFACE

Sometimes, the journey is just as valuable as the destination. I believe that those of us The regional integration forums: The sub-regional meetings highlighted contributions
who undertook this journey, which culminated in the exemplary Brazil Declaration from important regional organizations, such as CAriCoM, CelAC, MerCosur, oeA, siCA
and Plan of Action, shared this sentiment at various points in the process. In this brief and unAsur, in respect of persons’ freedom of movement and universal recognition of
note, I wish to take note of some elements of the Cartagena+30 Process that, in my refugees’ rights.
opinion, were fundamental to this great achievement.
Cutting-edge innovation: The process brought in experienced individuals who are
Government leadership: The States’ commitment was evident in all sub-regional con- working on the front lines of protection of refugees, and displaced and stateless per-
sultations. States with a long tradition in the international protection of refugees sons, and who provide us with unique perspectives in finding new solutions.
worked together with others that have demonstrated a growing interest in refugee
issues, based on the region’s commitment to human rights. Brazil and Mexico’s participation: We must acknowledge Mexico’s role in facilitating a
responsible handover to Brazil, as well as Brazil’s leadership as co-organizer of the en-
Participatory process: Dynamic ngos played a central role in the process, proposing tire Cartagena+30 Process, and as the host country of the Ministerial event. I sincerely
ideas, identifying gaps, and analysing new challenges, as well as ensuring refugee par- hope that Brazil will continue to play this role throughout the implementation of the
ticipation. Plan of Action.
The Caribbean: It has been our pleasure to witness Caribbean countries taking their Finally, I want to express my gratitude to the High Commissioner, who supported this
places in the discussion regarding the sub-region’s most relevant and specific immi- process from the very beginning, and who had absolute confidence in a part of the
gration and asylum trends. The sub-regional meeting held on Grand Cayman was, world where protection of the rights of refugees and displaced and stateless persons
without a doubt, a new beginning in our relationship with the Caribbean region, is an integral part of our calling to ensure respect for human rights, which arises from
which should strengthen support and understanding from the international commu- our history, and grows with our experience.
nity, taking into account the specific circumstances of these largely island nations.
Marta Juárez
The special situation of unaccompanied minors arriving to the United States of America: Director of unhCr’s Regional Bureau for the Americas
Although we received solid information on the circumstances surrounding departures (August 2009 - January 2015)
from the Northern Triangle of Central America, we never considered that the sub-re-
gional meeting for Mesoamerica, held in Managua, would be an appropriate occasion
to discuss this mass migration, which has so many dimensions and requires so many
stakeholders to take action. Without a doubt, the Cartagena+30 Process demonstrated
the benefits of a regional forum in responding to this emerging situation.
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares
88 9
INTRODUCTION
antónIo guterres
UNiteD NAtioNs
HiGH CoMMissioNeR
FoR ReFUGees
unhcr

Anniversaries offer an occasion to pause for reflection on the past, to celebrate the
present and look forward to the future with new propositions. The 30th anniversary
of the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees provided such an opportunity. I commend
the participating States for having seized this occasion forcefully and creatively by
adopting the landmark Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action in December 2014.
Life in a Refugee Camp. Virtually all states and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, togeth-
Miskito Indians from Nicaragua wait for a food er with a remarkable number of civil society organizations, participated in the
distribution at a Honduran camp during the Cartagena+30 commemorations process. They took stock of persisting and new
1980s. challenges in protecting refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless
©unhcr 1982 / n.goldschmidt persons in the continent, and renewed their commitment to implementing durable
solutions. Celebrating principles of cooperation and solidarity, participants agreed
on areas for intervention and concrete programs to further strengthen international
protection standards in the region and thus help to make a positive difference in the
lives of millions of forcibly displaced and stateless people.
The Latin America and Caribbean region has shown a truly exceptional collaborative
spirit throughout the Cartagena+30 Process, setting an example for other regions of
the world. At a time when conflict, persecution and violence have driven more people
from their homes than at any other time in recorded history, it is my hope that this
collection of key moments of the commemorations process will serve as an inspira-
tion to others in their efforts to protect the rights of the forcibly displaced. May these
memoirs also guide future generations of citizens and decision-makers, so that one
day, anniversaries can focus on celebrating the present: a present made of rights,
respect and equity for all.
Geneva, June 2015
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares
10 1111
I
orIgIn
and sIgnIfIcance
of the “cartagena+30
Process” for
commemoratIng
the 30th annIversary
of the cartagena
declaratIon
on refugees
of 1984
Colombian displaced leader shows
one of two things he was able to rescue
when he fled his home: The ID card
of his mother. Buenaventura, Colombia.
©unhcr / e. compte
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares
12 13
“
oUR GoAl is to BUilD tHe NeW
iNNovAtive, PRAGMAtiC AND FlexiBle
MAiNFRAMe oF iNteRNAtioNAl
CooPeRAtioN AND soliDARity
WitH WHiCH tHe GoveRNMeNts
WitH tHe CollABoRAtioN oF
UNHCR AND otHeR iNteRNAtioNAl
oRGANizAtioNs, tHe Civil soCiety
AND tHe iNteRNAtioNAl CoMMUNity
Will Meet PRoteCtioN CHAlleNGes
AND iMPleMeNt PRoGRAMMes to
FACilitAte sUstAiNABle solUtioNs
FoR ReFUGees AND stAteless
”
PeRsoNs.
António Guterres
UNiteD NAtioNs
Guatemalan refugee
HiGH CoMMissioNeR
at La Hamaca, Mexico.
FoR ReFUGees
©unhcr / m. vanappelghem
iNFoRMAtioN PAPeR By request of unhCr, the Brazilian Government ac-
30th annIversary I IntroductIon cepted to host the Ministerial Event that will take
of the cartagena 2014 is the year of the celebration of the 30th anniversary place on December 2nd and 3rd, 2014 in Brasilia and
declaratIon of the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees of 1984 (here- that will end the commemorative process. The Bra-
on refugees after referred as the Cartagena Declaration). During the zilian Government, along with unhCr and the Nor-
last thirty years, solidarity and regional cooperation -of wegian Refugee Council, has invited Governments
which the Cartagena Declaration is an example- has and the civil society of Latin America and the Carib-
proven to be effective in the solution of new and long bean to once again make use of the innovative and
standing situations of forced displacement in the Amer- flexible framework that is the Cartagena Declaration
icas. On the year 2004, for the celebration of its 20th an- to respond to the challenges of the next decade, and
niversary, twenty governments of Latin America and the advance strategically in the work in favor of persons
Caribbean adopted the Mexico Declaration and its Plan in need of international protection, including ref-
of Action for Strengthening the International Protection of ugees, asylum seekers, displaced and stateless per-
Refugees in Latin America, which has served as the com- sons. Furthermore, this process known as Cartage-
mon strategic mainframe for Governments in the region, na+30 is an opportunity to renew the commitment of
unhCr, civil society and the international community. the region with international protection, to highlight
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares
14 15
the importance of regional instruments and their On the year 2004, for the celebration of its 20th anni- Finally, the General Assembly of the Organization of the acts of transnational organized crime are causing
contribution to the universal asylum regime and to versary, the Declaration and Mexico Plan of Action to American States (oAs) on its resolution on refugees forced displacement of their people, specially affecting
reaffirm the importance of the 1951 Convention Re- Strengthen International Protection for Refugees in of 2012 and the Ag/res. 2839 (xliv-o/14) “Protection women, teenagers and non-accompanied minors. As
lating to the Status of Refugees in the Inter-Ameri- Latin America was adopted. It did not only validate the of asylum seekers and Refugees in the Americas” in- in other regions of the world forced displacement pat-
can asylum system. important principles of protection drafted in the pre- vites all Member States to actively participate in the terns have shifted since the adoption of the Convention
ceding Declarations, but also created the first Regional commemorative process “Cartagena 30” for the iden- on Refugee Status of 1951. These challenges have the
Plan of Action, introducing innovative solidarity pro- tification of new challenges concerning international risk of making a bigger impact if they are not addressed
II antecedents grams which have promoted protection and achieved protection in the Continent and to participate in the through regional and international cooperation and
The Cartagena Declaration is a non-binding regional solutions for those in need of international protection. Ministerial meeting on December 2014, sponsored by with a humanitarian approach.
instrument, adopted by a group of government experts the government of Brazil with the purpose of adopt-
of Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatema- On 2010, representatives of eighteen countries gath- ing a new strategic framework for the response of pro-
la, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Vene- ered in Brasilia to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the tection needs of refugees and stateless persons on the Iv the cartagena+30 Process
zuela at the Symposium on International Protection for Convention for the Refugee Status of 1951 and the 50th next decade”. Their resolution Ag/res. 2826 (xliv-o/14 Cartagena+30 has made possible a space in which the
the Refugees in Central America, Mexico and Panama anniversary of the Convention on the Reduction of “Prevention and reduction of statelessness and protec- Governments and unhCr, together with the civil society
held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia on November, Statelessness of 1961. They adopted the Brasilia Dec- tion of stateless persons in the Americas”) is drafted in and other international organizations can reflect on the
1984. The Symposium focused on legal and humanitar- laration on Protection of Refugee and Stateless Per- similar terms. progress made, the protection challenges the continent
ian problems that Central American refugees faced in sons in the American Continent. This event started a currently faces, the voids that may exist in the current
the 70’s and 80’s. commemorative process in the region endorsed by the regime of international protection and how to address
High Commissioner, which ended in December 2011 in III regIonal context them in a pragmatic, flexible and innovative way.
The importance of the Declaration as a tool of regional a Ministerial meeting in Geneva. This meeting gave the The Americas have a long tradition of granting asylum
protection has been validated by the un and the Orga- opportunity to all the countries in the world to make a and protecting human rights. Protection and the legis- With this purpose, unhCr has made available to the
nization of American States (oAs). This regional instru- commitment to fight statelessness and forced displace- lation on refugees is generally high standard. In spite of governments its legal and technical expertise as advi-
ment is based on the generous practice of granting asy- ment. The Brasilia Declaration recommended continu- the general strengths, the implementation of legal and sors, and also a group of Principal Experts: The Emer-
lum in the Americas and endorses important principles ing the implementation of the Plan of Action of Mexico institutional mainframes are still a challenge, especially itus Ambassador of Mexico, Mrs. Rosario Green, the
of the International Law of Refugees. The Cartagena as a regional framework to respond to the challenges of for: the granting of asylum, the quality of asylum proce- Judge of the International Court of Justice, Mr. Antô-
Declaration establishes a series of recommendations the region, such as protection in the context of mixed dures, the access to sustainable livelihoods and to full nio Cançado Trindade and the Judge of the Interna-
for the humanitarian treatment and durable solutions migration movements. benefits of asylum rights and the achievement of dura- tional Court of Human Rights, Mr. Diego Sayan. On
for persons in need of international protection, and is ble and sustainable solutions. Furthermore, the legiti- its part, the Norwegian Refugee Council has facilitated
also known internationally for its recommendation to On 2012, on the occasion of the first meeting of the mate concerns of the States for their national security the participation of more than 100 organizations of the
broaden the definition of “refugee” applicable to the National Committee of Refugees of the Member and and the tensions sometimes posed by their obligations civil society in the sub-regional consultations.
region. It has been included in the national legislation Associated States of MerCosur, all the participant coun- with international protection are still a challenge to be
of fourteen countries. tries unanimously supported the decision to organize an addressed through dialogue and regional cooperation. The dialogue process, which started (…..) took place
event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Cartagena On the other hand, recent political processes could through four sub-regional consultations held respec-
The relevance of the Cartagena Declaration was con- Agreement “with the goal of adopting a new Declaration open the way to achieve sustainable solutions in the re- tively in Buenos Aires (March 18-19) for the Mer-
firmed in 1994 for its 10th anniversary. This event led and Plan of Action to tackle the new challenges on inter- gion for refugees and long term displaced persons in Cosur countries, Quito (June 9-10) for the Andean
to the adoption of the San Jose Declaration on Refu- national protection of refugees in Latin America and the the future. countries, Managua (July 10-11) for the Mesoameri-
gees and Displaced Persons. The document analyzed Caribbean in the next decade”. In this context, and with can countries and Grand Cayman (September 10-11)
the importance of the Cartagena Declaration as a tool the cooperation of unhCr, regional consultations were The region faces new situations with a humanitarian for countries and territories of the Caribbean. These
for protection and made reference to the need to con- organized with the objective of analyzing together the impact on the population, and in some cases lead to consultations have facilitated a very ample debate
front the situation of internally displaced persons in current challenges and the lines of action for the pro- forced displacement. In the Northern Triangle of Cen- between government representatives of more than
the region. tection of refugees and displaced and stateless persons. tral America: Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, 30 countries of the region, observer countries, more
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares
16 17
than 100 organizations of civil society, ombudsmen • weDnesDAy, oCtober 8th protection challenges and implement programmes to
and the main international organizations with com- 10:00-12:00 / 14:30-17:30 facilitate sustainable solutions for refugees and stateless
petence in the matter. persons on the next decade (2015-2024).
• every thursDAy stArting oCtober 16th
The discussions at the four sub-regional consultations 14:30-17:30 The region will also reach the objective sought by the
have focused on subjects like: the quality of asylum United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr.
systems, the complexity of mixed migration move- • MonDAy, noveMber 3rD António Guterres, to establish itself once again as the
ments and the need to identify the persons who re- 14:30-17:30 leaders of the highest standards of protection and close
quire protection, the protection of persons who flee Meeting of Their Excellences Ambassadors of Latin cooperation of all countries to jointly solve in solidarity
from transnational organized crime, the concerns of America and the Caribbean, the National Secretary of and in responsibility the humanitarian situation of ref-
the States for their national security and their hu- Justice of Brazil (to be confirmed), the Director of un- ugees, displaced and stateless persons.
manitarian and human rights obligations, innovative hCr International Protection Division, the unhCr Di-
initiatives for comprehensive solutions, including rector of the Regional Office for the Americas and the
migratory solutions like labor mobility programmes, three Principal Experts of the Cartagena+30 Process.
statelessness, displacement caused by natural disasters
and the strengthening of regional and international For these consultations, unhCr has made available
cooperation within integration mechanisms such as room Mbt 04 at its headquarters in Geneva with simul-
CelAC, MerCosur, Andean Pact, siCA and CAriCoM in taneous translation Spanish/English/Spanish.
order to foster a spirit of solidarity.
All four sub-regional consultations have adopted v fInal mInIsterIal event: brasIlIa december 2nd and 3rd
in each case a series of conclusions and recommen- The Government of Brazil as host of the closing com-
dations taken as benchmarks for the drafting of the memorative event for the 30th anniversary of the Carta-
Declaration and its Plan of Action which will be sub- gena Declaration has prepared a complete program to
ject to an additional process of consultations between welcome Foreign and competent Minsters of all Latin
all participant States of Latin America and the Carib- American and Caribbean Countries, observer coun-
bean (grulAC-unhCr) in Geneva. By the end of this tries, international organizations and civil society.
last round of consultations it is expected that all Gov-
ernments of Latin America and the Caribbean feel It is expected that after the ample consultations, all par-
fully represented in the contents of the drafts of Bra- ticipant countries of Latin America and the Caribbean
zil’s Declaration and Plan of Action for its adoption feel that their concerns and solutions proposed by them
by unanimity or acclamation on the final Ministerial have been accurately presented on the text of the new
event in Brasilia. Declaration and Plan of Action, and therefore, the Dec-
laration and Plan of Action be approved by unanimity.
With the objective of reaching full consensus, the
Pro-tempore presidency of grulAC, held by Paraguay, The new Brasilia Declaration and its Plan of Action
has prepared -with the support of unhCr, serving as will become the new innovative, pragmatic and flexible
Secretariat for these consultations- the following ten- mainframe of international cooperation and solidarity
tative schedule subject to approval on the informative with which the Governments with the collaboration of
meeting to be held on Friday, September 26 (10:30- unhCr and other international organizations, the civ-
12:30) il society and the international community will meet
Preface | Marta Juárez II tHe cartagena+30 suBregIonal consultatIons III meetIng commemoratIng cartagena +30 V. adoPtIon of tHe BrazIl declaratIon and Plan of actIon VII. PartIcIPants
IntroductIon | antónio Guterres mercosur oPenIng ceremony sPeecH | PauLo abrão ePIlogue | CarLos MaLdonado
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety agenda BrazIl declaratIon
I orIgIn and sIgnIfIcance of “cartagena+30” VIII. aPPendIces
andean countrIes sPeecHes BrazIl Plan of actIon
InformatIon PaPer aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety Luiz aLberto FiGueiredo MaChado | eLeonora MeniCuCCi CartaGena deCLaration | 1984
sPeecH | antónio Cançado trindade mesoamerIca eduardo Cardozo | antónio Guterres VI. closIng ceremony san Jose deCLaration | 1994
a Genda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety sPeecHes MexiCo deCLaration and PLan oF aCtion | 2004
Jan eGeLand | Cândido FeLiCiano da Ponte neto
carIBBean Marta Juárez | enrique toreLLa brasiLia deCLaration | 2010
aGenda | disCussion PaPer | ConCLusions and reCoMMendations | Position oF CiViL soCiety IV. tHe PatH to cartagena antónio Guterres | CarLos antonio da roCha Paranhos
cIVIl socIety’s PresentatIon | saLLy VaLLadares