1. REGIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE PRELIMINARY IDENTIFICATION OF PROFILES AND REFERRAL MECHANISMS FOR MIGRANTS IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS  

2. BACKGROUND
The obligation of States to provide protection to migrants in vulnerable situations, irrespective of their migration status and with full respect for their human rights.

3. BACKGROUND
Within this context, technical support was requested from IOM and UNHCR to strengthen the process of detecting, identifying, and referring migrant populations in vulnerable situations, understanding that this is the first step in the process of providing the required protection and assistance.

4. BACKGROUND
In 2011, a process that included in its first stage the implementation four national workshops named “Capacity-building on Identification of Migrant Populations ins Vulnerable Situations, including Asylum Seekers and Refugees, within the Context of Mixed Migration Flows”.

5. COUNTRIES NICARAGUA
Nicaragua: August 29-31, with participation of 22 representatives from the following institutions:
General Directorate of Migration
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mi Familia, Red de Migrantes
National Police Force
Jesuit Services for Migrants
Ministry of the Interior
Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons
Office for Women’s Rights
Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office
Save the Children
The Army of Nicaragua

6. HONDURAS
Honduras: September 7-8, 2011 with participation of 24 representatives of the following institutions:
General Directorate of Migration
Secretariat of Justice and Human Rights
DNSEI
Conadeh
Honduran Institute for Children and Family
Casa Alianza
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
CIPRODEH
National Police Force

7. EL SALVADOR
El Salvador: September 12-14, 2011 with participation of 21 representatives from the following institutions:
National Civil Police Force
General Directorate of Migration
The Red Cross
ISNA
IAES – UNHCR Agency
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ISDEMU
Cáritas El Salvador
Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office

8. COSTA RICA
Costa Rica: September 26-28, 2011with participation of 19 representatives from the following institutions:
National Children’s Board
General Directorate of Migration
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Casa de Derechos - UNHCR
Scalabrinian Sisters

9. RESULTS FROM WORKSHOPS
A national assessment of advances and challenges in preliminary identification and referral mechanisms, as well as assistance and protection services
Indicators established for each vulnerability profile
An instrument for the preliminary identification of profiles validated

10. SECOND PHASE Costa Rica, May 22-23, 2012
A “Consultation meeting on the development of regional guidelines for the preliminary identification of profiles and referral of migrants in vulnerable situations” was held.

11. PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Second Phase
Directorates of Migration of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, and Honduras
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala
National Police Force of El Salvador
NGOs of Mexico and Honduras
Ombudsman’s Office of Costa Rica
National Women’s Institute of Costa Rica

12. OBJECTIVE
To provide Member States with general guidelines for the development and implementation of mechanisms for the preliminary identification of profiles and referral of migrants in vulnerable situations.

13. GUIDELINE IMPLEMENTATION SPHERES
Will orient the procedures of all institutions that are directly or indirectly involved in the matter.

14. GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR INTERVENTIONS
Principles of International Law on Human Rights, Refugees, and Humanitarian Law
Principle of equality and non-discrimination, especially discrimination based on gender, nationality, ethnic group, or sexual orientation
Principle of special protection for boys, girls, and adolescents and ensuring the Child’s Best Interest
Principle of confidentiality
Principle of non-re-victimization
Principle of respect for diversity and multiculturalism
And especially, international instruments on protection of the human rights of migrants

15. PRELIMINARY IDENTIFICATION OF PROFILES
Detection
Meeting urgent needs
Ensuring appropriate conditions for the interview
Providing information to the migrant
Assessing if an imminent danger exists
Conducting an identification interview to determine the profile

16. PROFILES
Profile of victim or potential victim of trafficking in persons
Profile of unaccompanied and/or separated migrant boy, girl, or adolescent
Profile of potential refugee/refugee status applicant
Profile of migrant in a situation of risk

17. REFERRAL FOR SPECIFIC PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE
Applying a category of migration protection or personal status to prevent rejection, refoulement, or deportation
Meeting immediate basic needs, if required: food, clothes, shelter, personal hygiene, etc.

18. FOLLOW-UP ON REFERRED CASES.
FOLLOW-UP ON REFERRED CASES
Submitting information to the relevant unit within the institution
Communicating immediately after referral to verify if the person has arrived at the place of referral
Providing any additional information requested by the institutions in charge of the person

19. BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
To establish protocols or routes for inter-institutional coordination
To provide training and dissemination
To maintain an updated directory of resources
To promote binational and regional agreements facilitating assistance and protection
To develop practical follow-up mechanisms

20. APPENDIX
A guide for conducting the interview and recording information

21. PROPOSED ACTIONS A review by each country
To provide a term of one month for submitting comments
If comments are not received, a positive answer will be assumed
At least three countries should work on the comments regarding the Guidelines
To be submitted for approval at the following meeting

22. THANK YOU
The countries that have developed these Guidelines REQUEST YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT.