With children and family-based care at the focus of a recent conference in Guatemala, CERI is partnering with the Secretaría de Bienestar Social de la República (SBS), the Guatemalan government’s social welfare agency. The partnership comes after CERI hosted a groundbreaking national conference in Guatemala July 17–18, 2024, titled “Dignity in Every Step.”
This pivotal event was dedicated to addressing the complex issues surrounding dangerous and forced migration, with an emphasis on the challenges faced by migrating and returning children and families. The conference – which brought together government officials, civil society representatives and international experts – served as a vital platform for collaborative dialogue between the agencies present at the event.
Attendees also discussed and refined protocols essential to the care and protection of vulnerable populations, ensuring a more compassionate and effective response to the migration crisis. The two organizations recently signed a memorandum of understanding, marking the beginning of an official partnership concentrated on supporting unaccompanied minors repatriated to Guatemala, reunified families, deinstitutionalization reform and the national promotion of family-based care.
SBS has committed to providing CERI with collaboration at both national and state levels, office space in Chimaltenango, and a desk in the national child protection unit, which in turn will help CERI reach more children and families Additionally, SBS has committed its staff to attend CERI’s training sessions. This partnership reinforces a united effort to improve child welfare in Guatemala and creates a firm foundation for CERI’s future work and expansion in the country.
