We are at a pivotal moment in addressing one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges in the Americas. In the past year, Costa Rica has witnessed an unprecedented influx of 526,329 migrants searching for better opportunities – a drastic increase from previous years. This influx – more than double the number in 2022 and triple that of 2021 – led to a National Emergency declaration by the Government of Costa Rica in September of last year. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Costa Rica has noted an alarming rise in families, including children, facing perilous conditions during their journey.
This complex scenario is further intensified by unique protection needs, a shifting political environment, and prevalent misconceptions about migration in host communities. The magnitude of this situation presents Costa Rica with a critical humanitarian challenge that requires immediate and strategic action.
We cordially invite you to an insightful luncheon briefing on February 8, where we will delve into IOM Costa Rica’s comprehensive strategy for addressing these acute circumstances. Diana Cartier, Chief of Mission at IOM Costa Rica, will share her expert insights on implementing a safer, more regulated, and orderly migration processes, benefiting both migrants in transit and the communities impacted by human mobility.
The briefing will include:
RSVP by February 1.
To attend, please reply to this email – limited seating is available: events@usaforiom.org
Diana Cartier, IOM Costa Rica Chief of Mission
Diana Cartier assumed the role of Chief of Mission for IOM Costa Rica in July 2021. She has worked in international development, humanitarian, recovery and stabilization worldwide for over twenty years. Ms. Cartier joined IOM in 2006 and worked in Zimbabwe, Sudan, Norway and Chad working in emergency and post crisis contexts as well as in the fields of migration development and governance to ensure benefit of migration. Most recently, she was in IOM’s headquarters in Geneva in the central evaluation office.
Ms. Cartier is a bi-national of France and the United States and raised in Morocco and Uganda. She holds a Master’s in International Development from the Institute of Political Sciences in Paris, France. Prior to joining IOM, Ms. Cartier worked with NGOs and consulting firms on community development and migrant and refugee support in the United States, South Africa and Mozambique.
Suzanne Sheldon, USA for IOM Board Chair
Suzanne Sheldon is a diplomat, lawyer, rule of law and migration policy expert. As Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, her work has involved rule of law development in post-conflict countries, counter-narcotics work, and life-saving assistance to refugees and vulnerable migrants.
From 2017-2019 she led the team in IOM’s New York office that supported UN member states on the Global Compact for Migration. For nearly 10 years, within Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, she directed the Office of International Migration, which articulates and implements the foreign policy of the United States as it relates to international migration, where she led the development and management of assistance programs to build the capacity of foreign governments to manage migration and provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable migrants.
USA for IOM is the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s nonprofit partner in the United States. | EIN 52-1525929
1752 N St NW Suite #600
Washington, D.C. 20036
For any inquiries please email us at info@usaforiom.org
© 2024 USAforIOM
