Latin America & The Caribbean
Overview
HIAS’ primary purpose in Latin America and the Caribbean is to protect and respond to the needs of refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people. We work in Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. Through more than 75 field offices, mainly in border and remote locations, we provide legal protection, community mental health, and psychosocial services (MHPSS), gender-based violence (GBV) protection, economic inclusion support, and emergency response.
The region is experiencing the largest and most complex displacement crisis in recent history. It’s estimated that more than 22 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, violence, or persecution in the region, representing about one-fifth of the number of displaced people globally.
600,000+
people across Latin America and the Caribbean were reached in 2023 with different programs and services
Impact Stories
LGBTQ+ People in Latin America Receive Support
At HIAS, we provide mental health support, legal assistance, gender-based violence prevention services, and economic inclusion programs to LGBTQ+ refugees and members of the local community in 11 different countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. Watch what some of our participants had to say about us today.
Watch video
WATCH: Redefining Masculinity in Latin America
HIAS’ positive masculinities program seeks to work with men in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to deconstruct and question harmful gender stereotypes that result in the perpetuation of gender-based violence (GBV).
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In Mexico, an All-Woman Team Supports Survivors
An all-woman team of HIAS staff is providing services to refugees that have experienced gender-based violence (GBV), including individuals from the LGBTQ+ community. The team is uniquely positioned to assist refugees subject to more extreme forms of persecution. “I’m really proud to work with the team here. A group of women has a different perspective, because of our lived experiences,” said Paula Garcia, the GBV officer for HIAS Mexico. “My colleagues and I support each other a lot and work together very collaboratively.”
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Paula García, a staff member of HIAS Mexico, provides assistance to a Haitian woman during a workshop in Tapachula, on September 12, 2023. (Selia Montes for HIAS)
Inspiring Refugee Women from Latin America
It’s far from easy leaving your home because you fear persecution. Many refugees leave from one day to another, leaving many of their loved ones and belongings behind. At HIAS, we celebrate the stories of refugee women from Latin America and the Caribbean who are overcoming these challenges to build a new life abroad.
From chefs to entrepreneurs to activists, these women are finding hope, resilience, and courage in the most challenging circumstances.
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Evelin*, a transgender woman from Guatemala, poses for a photograph in Tapachula, Mexico, with her dog. September 12, 2023. (Seila Montes for HIAS)
Statements
Jul 09, 2024
Jan 12, 2024
Supporting Our Response
HIAS’ work in Latin America and the Caribbean is supported by the following donors and partners:
UNHCR, PRM, AECID, Airbnb, BHA, ECHO, GIZ, Global Affairs Canada, Hilton Foundation, and INTPA
HIAS is proud to be part of regional coordination mechanisms and fora, including:
R4V Platform, REDLAC, LAC Intersectoral MHPSS Collaborative Group, Girls Not Brides, Coalition LAC RMD, Regional Network of Civil Organizations for Migration, ICVA, MIRPS, and Quito Process
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Fillipo Grandi joined HIAS Ecuador on World Refugee Day in Quito on June 21, 2021. (HIAS Ecuador)
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