IOM and UNHCR support women affected by migration and displacement in Honduras

Irregular migration patterns in Honduras have changed in recent months with some 12,800 women and girls returning to the country so far this year, according to official government figures, which counted them as they passed through a reception center, in which they constituted 26% of the cases attended. In 2021, this same population group represented 17% of the cases, that is, more and more women and girls return to the country.

To serve this group, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), with support from the Canadian government, developed a regional project that will be implemented from this year and until 2026 to improve the well-being of women and girls affected by irregular migration and forced displacement in Honduras and the other countries of northern Central America.

Gender violence and criminal groups

The agencies pointed out that, in addition to the returned women, there is a large female population affected by gender violence and criminal groups.

Such violence – which includes femicides, hate crimes and forced recruitment of girls and adolescents by criminal structures- generates forced displacement in Honduras, especially among women.

According to the most recent data on displacement due to violence in that country, women are a 10% more than men uprooted

The new project includes activities related to human mobility, justice, social development, human rights, health, gender equitychildhood and adolescence, population statistics, culture and work.

The IOM and UNHCR explained that all these initiatives are in line with the national priorities of the countries and the Comprehensive Framework for Protection and Regional Solutions, as well as the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

Protection begins in communities

The UNHCR representative in Honduras, Andrés Celis, argued that protection mechanisms begin in the communities, so “it is crucial strengthen the capacities of both community organizations and the State so that women, girls and people from the LGBTQI+ community can access institutional protection mechanisms and thus mitigate the risks that often force them to flee their homes.”

The project will start a fund of ten million dollars and will promote initiatives that strengthen the gender equity approach in decision-making processes on needs of migrant, displaced and refugee women and girls.

The head of the IOM Mission for Guatemala and Honduras said that the Organization is committed to supporting women and girls in vulnerable situations, as well as adolescent mothers, returned heads of households and LGBTQI+ people.

protagonists of their lives

“We are looking for a real transformation in Honduran and northern Central American society towards a society where women have the opportunity to be the protagonists of their own lives”, pointed out Jorge Peraza.

According to the agencies, the project activities will help improve the living conditions of some 5,000 women and girls in northern Central America, in addition to progressively changing the conditions that perpetuate discrimination, gender inequality and lack of respect for the rights of women and girls in situations of mobility.