PADF is committed to addressing the greatest challenges facing communities across the region, including Mexico and Central America. Through its Regional Human Rights and Democracy project that is being implemented in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, PADF works to strengthen human rights standards and protections. PADF’s approach supports systemic change by bridging support to governments with strengthening to grassroots groups and networks that provide direct support to vulnerable groups. This comprehensive project works alongside local organizations to promote and protect the human rights of migrants, internally displaced people, women, indigenous groups, LGBTI populations, and persons with disabilities among others.
PADF’s work has supported the development of coordinated actions on regional challenges, particularly on migration across Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The many faces of migration requires a networked approach to address the needs of unaccompanied minors migrating north through Central America and Mexico while navigating violence and the threat of exploitation on their journey or individuals who develop a physical or psychosocial disability as a result of their migratory journey, or those that return to their country of origin.
Recognizing the diverse situations facing migrants, PADF strengthened the networks to find migrants that disappeared during their journey and has directly contributed to identifying individuals such as Alejandra and her daughter Valentina, who migrated from Honduras and were rescued from “a trailer where they had been subjected to attacks with tear gas, without any consideration to children, women and elderly who were trapped inside.” With the help of regional networks, both Alejandra and Valentina were rescued and were able to return to their community of origin in Honduras and restore their lives with their family.
Through PADF’s work, the Government of Mexico has recognized the internal displacement phenomenon. This situation has been growing in recent years as violence and other threats have led people to swiftly leave their home communities due to fear for their lives. In an effort to build awareness and policy change to respond to this situation, PADF worked with expert local partner, Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, to document conditions and publish the first quantitative and qualitative study on internal displacement. This brought to life a more vivid picture of the condition facing those forced to leave their homes and directly contributed to the recognition of internal displacement as a challenge facing Mexico. It also prompted the government to respond to this situation, including direct responses and funding allocation within the national development plan.
Through PADF’s work, the Government of Mexico has recognized the internal displacement phenomenon. This situation has been growing in recent years as violence and other threats have led people to swiftly leave their home communities due to fear for their lives. In an effort to build awareness and policy change to respond to this situation, PADF worked with expert local partner, Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, to document conditions and publish the first quantitative and qualitative study on internal displacement. This brought to life a more vivid picture of the condition facing those forced to leave their homes and directly contributed to the recognition of internal displacement as a challenge facing Mexico. It also prompted the government to respond to this situation, including direct responses and funding allocation within the national development plan.
PADF works to ensure that all individuals have opportunities for a prosperous life. By blending a focus on human rights with one of inclusion, PADF has been able to support women, LGBTI individuals, and indigenous people among others to assert their rights and chart out a prosperous path for themselves.
Among those supported was Gaby, a trans woman, who through the support of this project was able to establish their own flower shop after receiving a scholarship for technical training through Guatemalan organization – OTRANS Reinas de la Noche. As she said, “Many people don’t have the opportunity to learn and find dignified work. However, with this support I have found a way to prepare myself for life, to do something productive and to avoid having to think about leaving the country I was born in, if I want to have a good life.”
Among those supported was Gaby, a trans woman, who through the support of this project was able to establish their own flower shop after receiving a scholarship for technical training through Guatemalan organization – OTRANS Reinas de la Noche. As she said, “Many people don’t have the opportunity to learn and find dignified work. However, with this support I have found a way to prepare myself for life, to do something productive and to avoid having to think about leaving the country I was born in, if I want to have a good life.”
Similar work in Honduras supported local cooperatives and trainings organized by LGBT organizations for their community, which faces constant stigma, discrimination and limited economic opportunities.
