VII ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL PROTECTION AND SOLUTIONS FRAMEWORK (MIRPS)

December 5, 2024 - Belize City, Belize

Hon. John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize and Minister of Immigration

H.E. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Excellencies, Distinguished Representatives of MIRPS States and Support Platform, cooperating countries, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, etc.

Amigas y Amigos.

It is my honor to address you on behalf of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States at this VII Annual Meeting of the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework, the MIRPS.

This meeting holds special significance for me as it takes place in my own country, Belize, a nation whose coat of arms proudly carries the national motto “Under the shade I flourish” and which reflects resilience and solidarity, concepts that MIRPS countries have embraced in their collective efforts to address the needs, protection, and durable solutions for displaced populations in Central America and Mexico.

I would like to especially thank Prime Minister Briceño and the Belizean authorities for their warm hospitality as hosts of this important meeting.

This annual gathering provides us with an opportunity to jointly take stock of the work, progress, and challenges in the implementation of the MIRPS, and also to advance dialogue and cooperation to address comprehensive and lasting solutions for all people who have been forced to move within Central America and Mexico.

The challenges before us are immense. By the middle of this year, more than 1.2 million people had been forcibly displaced due to violence, insecurity, the effects of climate change, disasters, and socioeconomic factors across Central America and the Caribbean.

These are not just statistics; they are families, women, men, children, and communities seeking protection and hope. Yet, despite these significant challenges, the solidarity of the seven MIRPS States-Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Panama- demonstrates what is possible when we work together.

MIRPS States have undertaken bold actions under their National Plans to prioritize the protection and integration of displaced persons, refugees and asylum seekers, as well as the implementation of effective policies to implement durable, dignified and sustainable solutions for all these people.

Belize, as the MIRPS Pro Tempore Presidency, has demonstrated exemplary leadership over the past year.

Through the implementation of a regional action plan, Belize has enhanced protection and solutions by empowering the MIRPS regional technical teams, fostering peer-to-peer learning, and introducing tools to strengthen results-based management as well as strategies to improve the visibility and dissemination of the progress within this framework.

The OAS General Secretariat is pleased to have provided technical support and tools for strengthening institutional capacities to improve the responses of the MIRPS and we will continue contributing to these efforts along with UNHCR as the Technical Secretariat of this mechanism.

Beyond these technical achievements, Belize led decisive steps to expand partnerships with key regional mechanisms and initiatives, such as the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, the Regional Conference on Migration, the Quito Process, the OAS Committee on Migration Issues, and the Cartagena 40 Plus process. These efforts underscore the importance of coherence and collaboration in addressing forced displacement at the regional level.

We are also glad to see the expansion of the participation of local governments and other non-governmental actors, such as the MIRPS Mechanism for Dialogue with Academia, an active engagement with the private sector, and a continuing dialogue with civil society organizations. These actions embrace the “whole of society approach”, a cornerstone of the Global Compact on Refugees. We are honored to have supported, along with UNHCR, these strategic alliances that emphasize inclusive and collaborative efforts of all actors to address displaced populations’ challenges and create sustainable solutions for them.

Within our hemispheric forum, we have also ensured that the priorities of the MIRPS ascended into strategic political spaces within the inter-American agenda in which the magnitude of the displacement of people has been highlighted and the MIRPS has been reinforced as a reference for coordinating responses to the common challenges faced by the countries of origin, transit and destination. This has resulted in important statements and mandates on MIRPS in seven consecutive OAS General Assembly resolutions adopted by the region's foreign ministers in the area of protection and human rights and on integral development.

I want to also highlight the crucial role of the MIRPS FUND established at the OAS, as a complementary mechanism for raising and channeling financial resources to strengthen the responses of the participating states and their national action plans in line with the MIRPS objectives.

Throughout 2024, we have worked closely with the implementing entities of each MIRPS State, providing support and technical assistance for the implementation of the initiatives of the MIRPS Fund's First Project Portfolio funded by Spain. These projects are already making a tangible difference in the lives of displaced persons through on-the-ground projects. I encourage other States and partners to contribute to this fund to help us expand our collective impact.

Distinguidas autoridades está claro que luego de 7 años de la adopción de la Declaración de San Pedro Sula que estableció al MIRPS, este marco de cooperación tiene un camino recorrido con resultados e impactos concretos que estan transformando vidas.

These initiatives will now pass to Costa Rica, the next MIRPS Pro Tempore Presidency, and a country that is well positioned to build on Belize’s legacy and advance the vital work under this framework.

Desde ya nuestra total dispocisión para apoyar a Costa Rica en esta labor regional.

The progress we celebrate today would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the MIRPS Support Platform under the leadership of the United States. We now will be welcoming Colombia as the new Chair of the Support Platform and are confident that their leadership will further enhance these efforts.

Finally, as a critical milestone in our shared journey, we congratulate MIRPS States that will be adopting the MIRPS Belize city Declaration during this meeting. This declaration reaffirms the commitment to strengthening the regional response to forced displacement and sets the stage for deeper partnerships and innovative approaches in the years ahead. We are honored to have supported the MIRPS States Permanent Missions to the OAS in concluding this declaration.

As we move forward with today’s deliberations, let us approach these discussions with clarity, determination, and a focus on actionable outcomes. Our collective efforts have the common goal of promoting protection and solutions for displaced persons, enabling them to regain stability, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive and flourish once more.

The OAS remains a committed partner in this endeavor. Together with MIRPS countries, the Support Platform, international financial institutions, civil society, the private sector, academia, and other stakeholders, we are determined to ensure that displaced persons receive the protection and opportunities, they deserve.

Thank you