The majority of minors from the Central American Northern Triangle, made up of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, they prefer to stay in their countries to migratedespite the environment of violence or lack of opportunities, revealed a study presented this Wednesday by the international NGO save the children.
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The study called “Should I stay or should I go”, analyzed the complexity of migration decisions, the needs and risks faced by children in these three countries, based on the responses of 122 children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 19.
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43% of children and adolescents expressed their preference to stay in their country or they still have no intention of migrating in search of better living conditions.
24% of those interviewed expressed their intention to migrate in the near future, 17% did not know for sure if they would leave, although they did not rule it out if some alternative was considered such as a scholarship, a job or if their parents decided to leave, while 16% did not respond.
The decision to stay was higher in Guatemala, as 44% would do so compared to 39% who would leave, followed by Honduras, with 43% and 20%, and El Salvador with 41% and 11%, respectively.
In El Salvador, the least vulnerable of the three countries as defined by the State Fragility Index, approximately one in ten children intended to migrate, the report noted.
Why do they stay?
The results of the study show that in most cases it is the children and adolescents themselves who decide to migrate or not. And the family is a key factor in decision making. Specifically, the family bond drives the child population to stay because they want to stay close and receive care and support.
In turn, the successful migration of a family member helps reduce the chances of young people migrating when receiving remittances from abroad. Many of them consider that the areas where they live are safe, where they maintain family and community ties, and also believe that they can achieve their goals of study and employment in their countries of origin, according to the study.
The gangs, which have a strong presence in the Northern Triangle, both push and stop the migration of minors. The violence of the so-called “maras” is a great incentive to leave a community, but at the same time an obstacle.
“All bus routes pass through opposing neighborhoods, that is, controlled by rival gangs, so young people are afraid to get on the bus. It is difficult for a young person to leave this neighborhood,” says the study.
And “many times young people see that they are blocked by gangs from studying or looking for other economic opportunities,” which constitutes reasons to migrate, said the regional director of Save the Children for Latin America and the Caribbean, Victoria Ward.
Is the American dream over?
In all cases, the situation of violence within the family or in the community is a factor that drives young people to migrate.
“The main reason (to migrate) is to seek economic opportunities in the destination country, and a good proportion leave to seek educational opportunities that they cannot find in their country either,” Ward explained.
The document summarizes that young people migrate for better job and educational opportunities, due to gender violence and family obligations that prevent them from studying in their communities of origin.
Despite this, the study pointed out that the “American dream” is not always the “aspiration”, since they flee from the violence, poverty or inequality they suffer in their place of origin.
Fear of the ‘Maras’
“We have also found in this study that many times the girls feel that they cannot leave their house for fear of the gangs” and being captured, Ward explained. Although there isn’t a “huge difference,” males “tend to migrate more than females,” Ward said.
Young women are often pressured by family obligations, have less access to higher education and are more likely to experience gender-based violence, at higher risk of rape, especially in gang-controlled areas, according to the study.
Are there solutions?
“We have a plan to reach five million minors in the region, working with them and their families to try to improve local situations and create more economic opportunities, more roots with the family and with the school system,” Ward explained.
“And, in turn, to help in Mexico, on the southern border of the United States, for those who are already on the way or those who are established,” he added.
EFE
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