Regional cooperation and refugee protection in Latin America: a 'South-South' approach

Abstract

Since the introduction of the 2004 Mexico Declaration and Plan of Action to Strengthen International Protection of Refugees in Latin America (MPA), Latin American countries have rapidly expanded their refugee protection mechanisms to assist those persons seeking asylum from persecution. These changes have occurred through the rapid growth of national laws establishing obligations on nation states to protect refugees in the region, as well as new commitments at the regional level to share responsibility for providing protection assistance. Under the MPA, Latin American nations have recognized that the regional nature of many refugee problems calls for 'South-South' cooperation in refugee protection. This cooperation is premised on the principle of 'regional solidarity', and the acceptance that countries in the South need to work together to share protection responsibilities towards refugees. This article addresses how Latin American governments have developed and implemented this 'South-South' approach to refugee protection in Latin America, and examines the merits of this regional approach for both Latin America and the international refugee law regime.