MEMBERS

It is a regional, intergovernmental initiative of a technical nature that was established to create non-mandatory mechanisms and commitments among the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to coordinate responses to the crisis of human mobility of Venezuelan citizens.

The flow of refugees and migrants from Venezuela has become one of the largest cases of human mobility in the world and the largest in the region. The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean came together to provide non-binding technical responses through mechanisms, coordinated efforts, and joint actions.

The first meeting was held in Quito, Ecuador, on September 3rd and 4th, 2018, to "exchange information and good practices, with a view to articulating regional coordination with respect to the migration crisis of Venezuelan citizens in the region." From there, the initiative receives the name of the Quito Process.

The Quito Process has technical work teams from different international organizations, led by UNHCR and IOM, which are currently joined by ILO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UN WOMEN, PAHO, UNDP and UNESCO. These teams develop regional initiatives that are then elevated to governments through the respective ministries of each area and their focal points.

Through the Technical Secretariat, these organizations link their work with the Pro Tempore Presidency and discuss the subjects in technical thematic workshops, through the leadership of champion countries in the subject. From there, the Pro Tempore Presidency discusses at the political level with the focal points of all member countries and integrates the subjects in its joint Declaration to advance regional initiatives and mechanisms.

It is made up of 14 member countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. It is also made up of the Group of Friends of the Quito Process, as well as the Technical Secretariat. The Pro Tempore Presidency rotates among the member countries and leads the dynamics and discussions: so far Ecuador, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Peru have led the Presidency, in chronological order.

The migratory phenomenon in the region has exceeded the institutional response capacity of the countries that have been most impacted by the flow of Venezuelan refugees and migrants. In October 2020, there were 5.1 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela living outside their country, of which 4.3 million were in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The countries roundtable has met in six plenary sessions —without taking into account numerous internal working sessions between technical teams, focal points of each country, the Pro Tempore Presidency and Technical Secretariat— in which each group exchanges information on the impact of the flow of Venezuelan refugees and migrants on specific themes and the best way to respond to the challenges of human mobility.

The governmental members of the roundtable understand that one of the main challenges for the region’s countries is to find a solution to the regularization of migrants, to offer health care and education, as well as assistance to girls, boys and adolescents who migrate, to seek mechanisms for family reunification or study dynamics for their socioeconomic integration. Another objective is to fight against human trafficking, outbreaks of discrimination, xenophobia and stereotypes towards the migrant population, the strengthening of asylum and refuge capacities, coordination with the Reception and Orientation Centers, and the best way to face the pandemic of COVID-19.

* They have not signed the declaration or final document