ECOSOC
POSITION PAPER
COUNTRY/ORGANIZATION: PANAMA
DELEGATE'S NAME: NATALIIA ANISKEVICH
UNIVERSITY/SCHOOL: ST. PETERSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
Historically, Panama has been a country of destination and transit for migrants but
also has become an origin of migrants in a lower scale. Its strategic location and the
ambitious projects being implemented by the Government attract a large number of
migrants.
In that sense, the migration of transit and destination for foreigners territory is
inextricably linked with the constitutive process of the nation and the construction
and operation of the Panama Canal and the Colon Free Zone earlier twentieth
century, which in turn led to the establishment of restrictive policies to migration of
certain national groups generally had a presence important in the country.
In the work of building the Panama Canal highlighted the participation of migrant
workers from Barbados, Martinique, Trinidad and Guadeloupe. It is estimated that
reached just over 31,000 workers from the West Indies, approximately 12,000
Europeans, 2,000 migrants from Central and South America and fewer Hindustanis,
among others. Upon completion of the Panama Canal, a large number of migrant
workers returned to their country of origin, other remained in conservation work
especially anti Channel plains and in some cases, migrants were inserted into other
economic activities, such as Hindus who also worked in commerce or in banana
plantations.
The next big wave of migration took place from 1970 to 1990. Panama received
refugees from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Cuba and Colombia, as well as Africa and
Eastern Europe. However, its position was also complicated by the military
dictatorships that were established in its territory of 1968-1989 and gradually
undermined the economy, stability politics and development. The last decade of
dictatorship was characterized by Panamanian slowing economic growth as well as
severe economic crisis increased unemployment, poverty and social inequality and
acceleration in the fall of average earnings.
What can we say about what's happening now?
The migration subject is one of the top priorities in the agenda. Panama is an active
member of all regional initiatives on migration, particularly the Regional Conference
on Migration (RCM) and the Central American Commission of Directors of Migration
(OCAM).
Main projects of migration politics:
1) The Darien Initiative;
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2) Emergency assistance program for persons seeking international protection
in the borders of Colombia with Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador;
3) Regional Program to Strengthen Capacities to Protect and Assist Vulnerable
Migrants in Mesoamerica.
The Darien Initiative:
The objective of this project is to reduce the vulnerability factors that drive
adolescents and youth in the Darien to become involved in illicit activities and fall
victim to recruitment by illegal armed groups, and to promote the strengthening of
the local government and community organizations. The project has three
components: Education and Coexistence, Income Generation and Community and
Institutional Strengthening. The project is implemented in the Embera-Wounaan
Comarca and the Darien Province. The first phase will focus on 15 communities in
the district of Cemaco and in Yaviza. Certain specific activities will be initiated in the
Jaque community as well.
Emergency assistance program for persons seeking international protection in the
borders of Colombia with Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador:
OM is assisting persons who have been displaced form the Colombian conflict and
are living in critical conditions in the Darien region of Panama at the border of
Colombia. Most of the beneficiaries crossed the border years ago but are still faced
with mobility restrictions, critically crowded living spaces and no possibilities to
improving their economic status.
The program began in October 2005 and is now in its sixth phase. It has had a direct
impact on over 2,000 persons during each phase of the program by providing access
to safe drinking water, shelter, health, training for self-sustaining activities,
transportation to obtain legal documentation, emergency kits, improvement of
schools and other activities to improve the critical living conditions. Projects have
been implemented in the Darién and Kuna Yala provinces located on the border with
Colombia which are also the poorest in Panama. This Project assists persons seeking
protection on Panamanian soil as well as receptor communities.
Regional Program to Strengthen Capacities to Protect and Assist Vulnerable Migrants
in Mesoamerica:
This regional program aims to enhance capacities of the Regional Conference on
Migration (RCM), its Member States’ and civil society partners in Mesoamerica to
protect and assist migrants, especially unaccompanied children, victims of
trafficking, and others vulnerable to human rights abuses along the migration route.
The project objectives are:
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1. To directly assist most vulnerable migrants with immediate needs, voluntary
return,
and
reintegration.
2. To strengthen the capacities of States and their civil society partners through
technical cooperation in the design and implementation of public policies that
protect and assist vulnerable migrants.
3. To promote dialogue and cooperation of all stakeholders on the protection and
assistance of vulnerable migrants at the national, regional and inter-regional levels.
IOM has taken forward steps towards the elaboration of a diagnosis about the
situation of vulnerable migrants in Panama, in order to improve the elaboration of
national strategies through institutional strengthening, creation of national
coordination groups, research process monitoring, and the follow up of Public
Policies that promote respect of human rights of vulnerable migrants in Panama.
Also, through a direct assistance fund, the project will improve the conditions of
migrants, specially, those vulnerable migrants with specific needs of protection and
assistance.
Panama country, which largely addressed the issue of migration. That is why our
country is aimed at a meaningful and lasting solution to this problem. Now we live in
a world that is one large global space. In such a world is impossible to forget about
the issue of migration, there is only one option to make this concept sounded
positively.
1) Enter the health insurance system for migrant workers and their families, which
will in some degree to make this process a legal rather than illegal, assists those
people who really need it. This project is already in the development of the
International Organization for Migration and Panama it fully supports and will
actively participate in its implementation.
2) If the migration is inevitable, we will offer to make it more profitable. Create jobs,
especially for migrants in those areas where not enough of the local working
population. As an example, it may be areas where a lack of qualified specialists in the
local population.
Also we are happy to listen to other opinions of our colleagues. I hope together we
will find a way to solve this problem.
Thank you for your attention.
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