The increase in migration has led to an overload of state capacities, causing migrants to be stranded in the border city of Tapachula for months while waiting for an appointment with the relevant authorities. In addition to the inhumane conditions in migration centers, the militarization of the National Institute of Migration (INM) results in detention-like accommodations involving the deployment of soldiers. Women and girls face particular dangers due to violence and patriarchal structures, both in their home communities and along migration routes.
Together with our partner organization "Fray Matías de Córdova“, we advocate for the rights of migrants in Mexico. Through educational programs, the staff of our partner organization helps reduce gender-based violence and strengthen the social standing of women and girls. Through advocacy activities, we aim to address migration issues in global decision-making spaces, urging state institutions to protect the rights of migrants and enhance their capacities.
Our goal is to provide comprehensive support to migrants so that they can continue their migration process and report the violence they have experienced. The focus of our work is the autonomy of women. They should empower themselves and realize that the same strength and courage that brought them here will help them claim their rights.
Carolina C., Tapachula, Mexico, Contact Person for Legal Support for Women and Gender-Based Violence
The target group consists of migrants, particularly women and children. The project offers informational resources to raise awareness of rights and obligations upon arrival. Additionally, lawyers provide both individual and collective legal assistance for migrants. The establishment of various protected groups creates spaces for connection and dialogue. Collectives for women, children, and youth offer activities that promote rights, facilitate knowledge exchange, and encourage reflection on structural violence. There is also a collective for men, which fosters critical engagement with traditional concepts of "masculinity" to help identify learned gender-based violence. Furthermore, support groups for women and children who have experienced gender-based violence in the context of migration receive psychotherapeutic support.
Through collective political activism, women are empowered in their visions of equality and step into the public eye together.
In support groups with psychosocial care, women have the opportunity to express traumatic experiences creatively and work through them together.
In small groups, women share their experiences before and during migration and support one another.
In an unstable living situation, the preparation of meals together and leisure activities provide a sense of security and a sense of 'everyday life'.
Public memorials to the victims of serious human rights violations demand that state authorities address and investigate the cases.
Projectinfo
| Place/Region | Mexiko Tapachula (Chiapas) Suchiate, Tonalá, und Juchitán (Oaxaca) |
|---|---|
| Partner | Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Matías de Córdova |
| Activities |
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| Duration | 2025 - 2027 |
| Budget | 305,000.00 EUR |
| Sponsor | German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) |
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