The seven countries that make up the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework (MIRPS)—Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama—concluded their eighth annual meeting with the adoption of the Heredia Declaration. This agreement reaffirms a regional commitment to strengthen protection measures and promote durable solutions for those affected by forced displacement in Central America and Mexico.
In the declaration, member states outlined joint actions to be implemented in 2026. They recognized that displacement in the region has multiple causes, including violence and socioeconomic factors. The need for a comprehensive response addressing root causes, ensuring human rights, and promoting lasting solutions was emphasized.
This year saw significant progress in strengthening asylum systems, expanding access to employment and education pathways, and improving coordination among institutions. Despite these steps forward, states acknowledged that further efforts are needed to address the needs of more than 1.7 million people affected by displacement across Central America and Mexico. The importance of collaboration with local governments, international financial institutions, and regional mechanisms such as the CRM (Regional Conference on Migration), Quito Process, and Cartagena +40 was also highlighted to create a more coordinated response.
Costa Rica served as Pro-Tempore Presidency in 2025. Its priorities included initiatives aimed at facilitating protection and socio-economic integration of displaced persons through cooperation between national and regional authorities. Throughout the year, processes were promoted for regional coordination with key platforms and stakeholders to enhance responses to displacement.
Members of the MIRPS Support Platform—which includes donor countries, international financial institutions, and technical partners—renewed their willingness to support regional efforts. During a high-level session at this meeting, Colombia concluded its mandate as President of the Support Platform while reiterating its commitment “to continue promoting resource mobilization, sharing best practices and coordinating among international actors,” stating that this support “has been fundamental in driving projects within MIRPS countries and strengthening their capacity to respond.”
At the close of the meeting, Costa Rica officially handed over the Pro-Tempore Presidency of MIRPS to El Salvador for 2026.
The MIRPS is an initiative involving Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Panama designed as a mechanism for implementing the Global Compact on Refugees. It aims to facilitate regional cooperation among countries of origin, transit or destination for greater shared responsibility regarding prevention measures as well as protection solutions amid rising displacement in Central America and Mexico. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) along with Organization of American States (OAS) serve as Technical Secretariat for MIRPS.
The MIRPS Support Platform was created in December 2019 to back efforts by participating countries by mobilizing support from a broad range of stakeholders. Its current members include Argentina; Brazil; Canada; Colombia; European Union; France; Spain; Switzerland; Uruguay; United States; Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); World Bank Group; Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI); Economic Commission for Latin America & Caribbean (ECLAC). UNHCR & OAS act as Secretariat for this platform.
