Lima, Peru, November 9, 2017 – Between November 7 and 9, 2017, the Meeting of Directors of the Scalabrinian Casas del Migrante of the countries of South America took place at the Hermasie Paget Spirituality House, located in San Isidro-Lima.

The Executive Director and the Deputy Director of SIMN, as well as the Directors of the Casas del Migrante of Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Peru as host, attended the meeting. The objective of this meeting was to evaluate the results and impacts of some support projects that the Scalabrini Network of Casas del Migrante and Centers in South America received in the last three years, and to project new perspectives of work and collaboration with international organizations, government agencies and organizations of civil society to face the current challenges of migration in the region. 

The opening session of the meeting included interventions by Dr. Marcial Rubio, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru, on the Peruvian migration situation and the responses of the Peruvian State, and Mr. José Iván Dávalos, Chief of Mission in Peru from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on the role of international organizations in the governance of migration in the country.

“The work of the Scalabrinian missionaries in Peru is a light that indicates the path towards where we have to continue as a State, civil society and international organizations in the governance of migration,” said Dr. Marcial Rubio, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Peru.

About SIMN – SIMN is supporting more than 250 Scalabrinian centers, shelters and programs that are providing lodging, food, training and employment programs; psychological and religious services; protection to victims of human trafficking and support in the integration process to migrants, refugees and seafarers in five continents. In 2016, for example, Scalabrinian Centers has supported 120,738 migrants and refugees and 172,790 seafarers around the world. SIMN is also supporting a network of schools providing education, school supplies, and food, (possibly their only meal of the day) to thousands of needy children. In addition, SIMN is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS) and from this perspective is providing research and support for regional and global policies to protect and promote the dignity and the rights of migrants and their families.