This report contributes to the identification and analysis of recruitment practices in Belize, Guatemala and Mexico of migrant workers from northern Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras)as well as its adherence to international standards in this area. The study includes a characterization of recruitment practices and policy framework, as well as a description of the profile of migrant workers in agriculture, domestic work and tourism.

This report provides an overview of the findings of surveys conducted in June-July 2021 by the IOM Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) Program in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador with 67 AVR beneficiaries supported during May-July 2021.Obtaining qualitative data in addition to demographic descriptors provides important insights into the nature of migrants’ experiences in countries of destination and origin as well as any plans to re-migrate, mental and physical health status, financial security, employment, physical safety and any post-arrival assistance received.

This first annual monitoring report of the IOM Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) program in Mexico and North of Central America countries, informed by five earlier summary reports, has two primary objectives. The first goal is to present mobility flow trends of AVR program beneficiaries to and from El Salvador, Guatemala–Belize,  Honduras and Mexico since March 2020, which allows for direct linkage to the COVID-19 pandemic. The second objective is to present the findings of monitoring surveys of AVR beneficiaries from March 2020 to April 2021.

This report provides an overview of the findings of surveys conducted by the IOM Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) Program in Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico.2 Each of the 102 respondents was asked a series of 24 to 33 questions by destination country AVR teams one to three months after beneficiaries’ returns to their countries of origin. 

Socioeconomic conditions, sexual abuse, the search for family reunification and domestic violence have prompted thousands of Central American and Dominican women to migrate to improve their quality of life. However, since it is increasingly common for them to migrate independently and because of their gender status, they are exposed to multiple dangers, such as human trafficking. Because little is known about the practices, dynamics and operational characteristics of this crime in this region, this publication represents an effort to address these knowledge gaps.

The illegal removal of organs is one of the least known manifestations of human trafficking and has gained great importance in the discussions of the international community since the last decades, health professionals and in international and regional organizations, due to the worrying increase in the illicit trade in organs, as well as the health and safety risks that this implies for the living donor. Because of this, in this publication you will find a document on the analysis of this phenomenon and its scope in the Central American region.

Research on human trafficking, especially for the purpose of labour exploitation, is more important than ever. We are therefore pleased to make available to the national and regional authorities of Central America, as well as other social actors, exploratory studies that seek to open the way for new and more detailed research in this field.

This document is available in Spanish.