Venezuelan Migration in 2021: COVID-19, Elections, and Human Rights

Join Council of the Americas to hear from experts on the current challenges that the Venezuelan migration issue presents considering the continued health, economic, and social repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as recent developments regarding immigration policies and electoral processes in several Latin American countries.  

Although COVID-19 stalled migration from Venezuela to neighboring countries during the first months of the pandemic, studies report that by the fall of 2020 migrants were restarting their journeys reaching numbers similar to those from before the health crisis. Even as many refugees returned to Venezuela due to the virus, the lack of access to basic needs and minimal job opportunities led to a renewed spike in emigration. 

In this context, rising Venezuelan migration has been welcomed in countries in Latin America with varied responses in terms of immigration policies, a growing threat of xenophobia, and of human rights violation, particularly to women and children. Additionally, the issue is increasingly becoming a key topic in the political agendas of candidates running for office in a year of multiple elections across the region. 

The panelists will provide an overview of this developing situation, with a special focus on the impact of the crisis in the human rights of migrants and refugees, and will provide recommendations and analysis on what governments, civil society, and the private sector can do to contribute to a solution. 

Speakers: 

• Diego Beltrand, Special Envoy of the Director General for the Regional Response to the Venezuelan Situation, International Organization for Migration (IOM) @BELTRANDDIEGO
• Ligia Bolivar, Center for Human Rights, Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) @ligiabolivar
• Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian, Director, Department of Social Inclusion, Organization of American States (OAS) @BeticaMunozPogo
• Tamara Taraciuk Broner, Acting Americas Deputy Director, Human Rights Watch (HRW) @TamaraTaraciuk
• Tim Padgett, Americas Editor, Miami NPR affiliate WLRN (moderator) @TimPadgett2

To register, please contact Francisco Martínez at rsvpmiami@as-coa.org

For program information please contact Yndira Marin at ymarin@as-coa.org or Ariana Molina at amolina@as-coa.org.

For media inquiries please contact Pia Fuentealba at mediarelations@as-coa.org