Colombia: Consular Personnel Trained to Assist Their Nationals During Crisis Abroad
Bogotá, Colombia, mid September 2024 – A strategic and participatory workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of consular personnel from South American Conference on Migration (SACM) member countries was held, focusing on the Migrants in Countries in Crisis (MICIC) initiative and contingency planning. The event was led by Colombia’s SACM presidency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD).
The workshop primarily provided strategic training to consular personnel working in emergency departments equipping them with necessary tools and knowledge to effectively protect and assist their nationals during crises abroad, including recurring disasters in the Americas. The workshop also focused on strengthening consular contingency planning, actively preparing participants to respond to various disaster scenarios, in alignment with both MICIC and SACM frameworks.
The main topics that were discussed in the workshop included:
- Mapping vulnerabilities around migrants
- Awareness around customized consular contingency plans
- Practices to identify relevant frameworks and key stakeholders
- Guidelines around concise communication with Nationals during emergency situations
The workshop successfully contributed to the better understanding of participants around the importance of including migrants in national disaster risk reduction emergency planning and the critical need for migrant populations to be integrated into consular preparedness efforts for a broad spectrum of emergencies, including disasters and natural hazard, climate-related disasters and conflict-related crises.
South American Conference on Migration (SACM): A Platform for Cooperation
The event highlighted the deepening sense of cooperation among participating South American countries. The workshop served as a crucial platform for advancing regional collaboration, not only among consular personnel from various countries but also with key partners like SACM, IOM, and PDD. The exchange of experiences and best practices fostered deeper partnerships and laid a solid foundation for future joint initiatives in crisis response and migrant protection.
This workshop in Bogotá marks a key milestone in ensuring consular personnel are equipped with the tools they need to effectively respond against the backdrop of South American countries continuing to face increasing challenges due to disasters and similar crises, thus contributing to this region’s overall resilience and cooperation.
This workshop was convened as part of the SACM “Network on Migration, Environment, Disasters and Climate Change”. More info about this network on here
Header photo: IOM
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