Carribbean Regional Conference on the Protection of Vulnerable Persons in Mixed Migration Flows (22-23 May 2013)

Migration, 23 May 2013

On May 22-23, 2013, UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration organized a regional conference in Nassau, the Bahamas, on the protection of vulnerable people in mixed migration flows in the Caribbean.

The conference was the latest in a series of regional conferences in recent years on refugee protection and international migration. Aimed at promoting cooperation and identifying good practices, it also received funding support from the United States Department of State.

Almost 100 delegates attended the meeting, including representatives of governments and civil society from 25 nations across the Caribbean as well as international and regional organizations such as the International Maritime Organization, the Organization of American States, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Health Organization and the International Detention Coalition.

Specific goals included fostering regional cooperation, inter-State dialogue and partnership and promoting a protection-sensitive and solution-oriented approach to mixed migration management in the region; assisting states to address the protection needs of vulnerable people in mixed migration flows; and identifying and sharing good practices and experiences in managing mixed migration flows in the Caribbean.

The conference also focused on data collection and analysis of migration profiles; protection-sensitive entry systems; rescue at sea operations, interception and disembarkation; identification and protection of vulnerable people within mixed migration flows, including victims of trafficking and unaccompanied minors; international and regional cooperation mechanisms; and access to solutions for refugees and other vulnerable groups, including assisted voluntary return and reintegration.

Participants stressed the need to enhance regional cooperation and partnership to improve the management of mixed migration flows and identified possible next steps in boosting regional cooperation and partnership; enhancing national and regional capacities; and identifying solutions.

Conference Documents

1. Main Conference documents

• 1.1. Conference Agenda
• 1.2. Concept Note
• 1.3. Conclusions
• 1.4. List of Participants
• 1.5. Session Guidelines
• 1.5.1. Facilitators Guidelines
• 1.5.2. Panelist Guidelines – Natural Disasters and Mobility
• 1.5.3. Panelist Guidelines – Protection of VOTs and other vulnerable groups
• 1.5.4. Panelist Guidelines – Protection sensitive entry systems
• 1.5.5. Panelist Guidelines – Rescue at sea
• 1.5.6. Panelist Guidelines – Solutions
• 1.5.7. Plenary Guidelines – Natural disaster and data collection
• 1.5.8. Plenary Guidelines – Protection of VOTs and vulnerable groups
• 1.5.9. Plenary Guidelines – Protection sensitive entry systems
• 1.5.10. Plenary Guidelines – Rescue at Sea Operations
• 1.5.11. Plenary Guidelines – Solutions
• 1.6. Summary Report

2. Conference Background documents

• 2.1. Selected Background Documents

3. Conference Conclusions

• 3.1. Conclusions

4. Conference Statements

• 4.1. Closing Remarks – William Pratt (Director of Immigration)
• 4.2. IOM Opening Remarks
• 4.3. Keynote Address – Hon. Philip Davis
• 4.4. Opening remarks -Philip Miller (PS Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration)
• 4.5. UNHCR Shelley Pitterman Opening Remarks

5. Conference Plenary Presentations

• 5.1. Belize Presentation – Protection Sensitive Entry Systems
• 5.2. Dominican Republic – National Context – Solutions
• 5.3. Haiti – Natural Disasters and Mobility – Data Collection and Processing in Emergency Situations
• IFRC – Natural Disasters and Mobility – Data Collection and Analysis
• 5.5. IMO – Rescue at Sea Operations, Interception & Disembarkation
• 5.6. International Detention Coalition – Protection Sensitive Entry Systems – Alternatives to Detention
• 5.7. IOM – AVRR & Migration Management
• 5.8. IOM – Natural Disasters and Mobility – Lessons from Haiti
• 5.8.1. Brochure DTM Haiti
• 5.8.2. DTM Report
• 5.8.3. IDP Registration Report 2012
• 5.8.4. IOM Haiti presentation – Vlatko Avramovski
• 5.8.5. Phase 1 Registration Report
• 5.9. IOM – Protecting Vulnerable Migrants
• 5.10. Jamaica – Protecting Vulnerable Persons in Mixed Migration Flows
• 5.11. The Bahamas – Rescue at Sea Operations, Interception & Disembarkation: Screening, Identification and Referral Mechanisms for Mixed Migration Arrivals in The Bahamas
• 5.12. Remarks – Mrs. Cleola Hamilton, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, The Bahamas
• 5.13. TCI – Rescue at Sea Operations
• 5.14. UNHCR – Human Trafficking and Refugee Protection in Mixed Migratory Flows, A UNHCR’s Perspective
• 5.15. UNHCR – Protection Sensitive Entry Systems
• 5.16. UNHCR – Solutions for Refugees
• 5.17. UNHCR – Irregular Maritime Movements

6. Media

• 6.1. 2013 Press Release – Embassy of the United States Nassau, Bahamas
• 6.2. IOM Press Release
• 6.3. Government of Bahamas Press Release
• 6.4. UNHCR Press Release

7. Conference Poster

7.1. Banner