Buenos Aires – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, and the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (INADI by its Spanish acronym) have joined forces under the framework of IOM´s global campaign i am a migrant. This joint initiative seeks to raise awareness among the population about positive contributions of migrants in Argentina in order to promote respect for migrant rights and to dispel negative perceptions of migration. 

IOM and INADI launched this week (26/9) an audio-visual production composed of 13 short films chronicling the life stories of migrants from Haiti, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Guinea-Bissau, Russia, Peru, Colombia, Italy, Bolivia, and Cuba who today reside in Argentina.

Argentina has traditionally been an important destination country for migrants. At present, more than two million persons born abroad live in its territory. The highest percentages of migrants have come from Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. The country has high standards in terms of migrant rights, as stipulated by the National Migration Law Number 25.871, which recognizes the human right to migrate and ensures equal access to social services, public goods, health, education, justice, work, employment and social security, on the same basis as the country nationals.

IOM´s global i am a migrant campaign aims at fighting discrimination, xenophobia and racism against migrants. It also seeks to show the diversity and the human face of migration, giving a voice to migrants.

In the videos – recorded in the provinces of Neuquen, Mendoza, Rio Negro, Formosa, Misiones, Buenos Aires, and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires – migrants speak of their reasons for migrating and their migration experiences, as well as during their integration process in Argentina.

 “When you arrive in another country, it is like being born again, because you start anew,” said Manuela Erta Lor, a young Haitian woman today studying tourism in the City of Buenos Aires. “It is also an opportunity for growing,” she explained [Watch video].

“A migrant goes by with a rucksack full of things, not only clothes, but full of customs; it is not easy to leave everything far away,” added Mery Lucas, a Bolivian sanitation agent living in Mendoza. [Watch video].

Gabriela Fernández, IOM Argentina Head of Office, said: “We are witnesses to the opportunities provided by Argentina to migrants. Its migration law is focused on migrants as right-holders.” She added: “The stories included in this campaign depict this vision of Argentina as a nation whose doors are open to migration.”

Claudio Presman, the INADI Intervenor and chief authority, stated: “Argentina is a land that came into being thanks to migrants, and continues today receiving those who migrate.”

He continued: “We are working towards the inclusion of migrant people and discriminatory speeches should be disarticulated.”

The National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism of Argentina is a de-centralized agency whose objective is to develop national policies to combat all forms of discrimination, xenophobia and racism, while promoting and pursuing public federal and transversal policies jointly with the civil society, aimed at achieving a diverse, egalitarian society.

The cooperation between INADI and IOM is part of the Project “Promotion of the Social Inclusion of Migrants in Argentina”, funded by IOM´s Development Fund.

The campaign will be widely broadcast from October on and available at: http://www.inadi.gob.ar/ and http://argentina.iom.int/co/

For further information, please contact Débora Taicz, IOM Argentina, Tel: + 5411 4815 1035, Email: dtaicz@iom.int