De-Militarize Central America to Crack Down on Emigration, Say Human Rights Groups teleSUR
go to original April 12, 2015

The plight of Central American migrants on their way to the United States, making the dangerous journey through Mexico on top of freight trains. In Mexico, they often fall victim to hunger, violence, extorsion, kidnapping and even death, in what has become a major human rights issue. The "Casa del Migrante" provides much needed help to the migrants. (TeleSUR English)

Seventy-five human rights groups have called on Central American nations and the United States to rethink a controversial plan aimed at curbing the flow of immigrants to North America.

Dubbed the “Alliance for Prosperity,” the plan has been under development by El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the United States and the Inter-American Development Bank since late 2014, after a spike in child migrants heading to the United States from Central America sparked an international controversy.

Advocates for the plan argue it will produce a coordinated response to Central American emigration, including improving border security and boosting economic development.

In a joint statement in September 2014, the Salvadorian, Guatemalan and Honduran governments argued, “Stronger growth in our economies requires attracting private investment, promoting certain sectors with development potential and concentrating activities in strategic geographical areas.”

However, according to Kelsey Alford-Jones, Executive Director of the Guatemala Human Rights Commission in Washington, DC, the plan shows little divergence from state policies that produced Central America's emigration crisis in the first place.

“One of our deepest concerns about the Alliance for Prosperity Plan is that it perpetuates the same economic policies that have already resulted in skyrocketing inequality,” Alford-Jones stated.

Read the rest at teleSUR

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