Model and Path for Child Protection Officers in Central America: Insights from Mexico

1. Presentation of the Model and Critical Path to Implement Child Protection Officers in Central America, based on the Mexican Experience Dalia Gabriela García Acoltzi

2. Background • On March 30, 2007 the Inter-institutional Board on Unaccompanied Migrant Boys, Girls and Adolescents and Women was established, with the primary objective of designing specific actions to address this situation. • The Board developed the “Model for Protection of the Rights of Migrant and Repatriated Boys, Girls and Adolescents”, which considers the establishment of the role of “Child Protection Officer” (OPI, Spanish acronym). • The OPIs are federal immigration officers whose main task is to ensure respect for the human rights of migrant boys, girls and adolescents, especially those that are unaccompanied. Their primary duties include the following:

3. Primary Duties

4. Introduction Based on the global migration context and the Child Protection Officer (OPI) Model, we are facing – as a country – the challenge of providing comprehensive assistance to migrant boys, girls and adolescents. This involves three essential aspects that are currently being addressed, in coordination with different countries and government levels and with participation of civil society.

5. New Scenarios Three scenarios are currently being addressed: Organizing the work of the OPIs based on operations. Ensuring the best interest of the child within the framework of our responsibilities. Expanding the model to include other migrants in vulnerable situations.

6. Organizing the work of the Child Protection Officers based on operations. Operating Manual: States the profile of the Child Protection Officer. Describes the operational coordination of OPIs at a central level. Highlights the importance of replicating inter-institutional links at a local level, where specific topics relating to child protection can be addressed by federal institutions. Proposes a supervision mechanism for the work of each Child Protection Officer. Provides tools to support the Child Protection Officers.

7. Ensuring the best interest of the child, within the framework of our responsibilities and in compliance with current legislation. This means considering the best interest of the child above his or her migration status in all our actions. Exploring follow-up mechanisms at a national and regional level, in collaboration with institutions in charge of ensuring child protection, considering the family and social contexts. Involving civil society and the private sector.

8. Expanding the model to include other migrants in vulnerable situations. Based on the agreement that led to the Guidelines on Protection of Migrants of the National Institute of Migration (INM), published on November 29, 2012, efforts to specialize INM staff are being envisaged to provide assistance to unaccompanied boys, girls and adolescents, women, victims of crime, disabled persons and senior citizens (Article 12). The objective is to expand the scope of assistance provided by Child Protection Officers to include other groups in vulnerable situations.

9. Migrant Boys, Girls and Adolescents Assisted, 2009-2015 GRAND TOTAL: 60,030

10. Migrant Boys, Girls and Adolescents Assisted BY GENDER Female 31.73% Male 68.27%

11. BY NATIONALITY

12. Thank you Dalia Gabriela García Acoltzi dggarcia@inami.gob.mx