Declaration of Brasilia on the occasion of the XXIII South American Conference on Migration

"Protecting and integrating migrants in our region" - Brasilia, Brazil – November 19, 2025

The XXIII South American Conference on Migration (CSM) was held on November 18 and 19, 2025, at the Itamaraty Palace, Brasilia, Federative Republic of Brazil, with the participation of representatives of the governments of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Republic of Colombia,  the Republic of Chile, the Republic of Ecuador, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the Republic of Paraguay, the Republic of Peru, the Republic of Suriname and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, as well as representatives of International Organizations, Observers and Special Guests, and the Technical Secretariat in charge of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Under the theme "Protecting and Integrating Migrants in Our Region", the XXIII CSM commemorated the 25 years of the Conference. On this occasion, the Member States highlighted the recent approval of the South American Plan for Migration towards Integration 2035 and the concerted definition of the 2025-2026 Plans of the five Networks. The progress reflects the CSM's commitment to strengthen migration governance focused on the social, labor and educational integration of migrants and their families, in the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, the protection of migrant children, border management, the regional response to climate challenges and disasters, as well as the strengthening of consular protection and coordination.

The Member Countries of the CSM:

-      Reaffirm the principles of the CSM in the unrestricted respect for the human rights of migrants and their families, in the response to their needs regardless of their origin, nationality, gender and/or migratory status, and in the regional approach based on human development and multilateralism.

-      Reiterate that the CSM is the main forum on migration issues in South America, through which member states address the structural and multidimensional causes of migration flows, including political, social, and economic factors, internal and external, and coordinate joint positions on migration issues in other international forums.

-      Ratify that orderly, safe, and regular migration is an engine of development in countries of origin, transit, destination, and return.

-      Urge the strengthening of mechanisms and strategies for the protection of the rights of migrants and their families in the countries of origin, transit, destination, and return at all stages of the migration process, based on the agreement of common standards based on international principles and instruments in force, taking into account the particularities of each country.

-      Underscore their unrestricted commitment to the protection and guarantees of the human rights of migrant children and adolescents, prioritizing their best interests in all policies and actions.

-      Reaffirm the importance of strengthening the return and reintegration processes, through humanitarian, coordinated and inter-institutional mechanisms. They highlight the need to ensure a dignified reception and the implementation of national programs that facilitate sustainable reintegration into communities of origin.

-      Recognize as challenges the promotion of actions and the implementation of policies that prevent xenophobia, racism, criminalization of migrants and mass deportations of migrants to countries of origin and third countries.

The CSM Countries commit to advance in the implementation of the South American Plan for Migration towards Integration 2035, detailing relevant aspects below:

1)   During 2025, the CSM concentrated its efforts on the participatory formulation and validation of the 2025-2026 Plans of the five Networks of the South American Plan. These documents were prepared through a collaborative process that incorporated contributions from States, observer organizations, and representatives of civil society, reinforcing their legitimacy and regional relevance.

2)   The Networks have reaffirmed their role as spaces for technical and political articulation. The Plans prepared constitute roadmaps, with measurable and concrete actions aimed at strengthening institutional capacities, harmonizing regulatory frameworks and promoting regional cooperation.

3)   Progress was also made in the methodological definition of the Plan's monitoring indicator, which will be coordinated by the South American Observatory on Migration (OSUMI). Finally, the Plans integrate a strategic component of implementation partnerships, identifying concrete support from observer organizations and intergovernmental bodies, as well as a resource mobilization strategy that will strengthen sustainable and effective regional migration governance.

4)   Member countries congratulate the leadership of the Federative Republic of Brazil in the XXIII CSM, as well as the coordinating countries of the Networks that made it possible to achieve the formalization of the 2025-2026 Plans. Of particular note is the participation and contributions made by observer organizations and civil society.

The CSM, within the framework of the implementation of the South American Plan, calls for strengthening migration governance in the following thematic areas:

MIGRATION GOVERNANCE TOWARDS INTEGRATION:

The CSM, through the Integration Network, expresses its commitment to the promotion of human mobility as a fundamental axis for regional socioeconomic development.

Of note is the coordination and coordination with regional mechanisms, such as MERCOSUR and the Andean Community (CAN), through the implementation of instruments such as the Andean Migration Statute and the Agreement on Residence aimed at strengthening regularization mechanisms.

Priority is given to strengthening labor and academic mobility. The Network promotes concrete actions for the integration of migrants and their families, including access to social rights, recognition of degrees and professional skills.

The portability of rights, financial inclusion, and voluntary return programs, assistance in forced returns and dignified reintegration are fundamental pillars of the Plan. The involvement of international mechanisms and agencies, together with measurable indicators and monitoring mechanisms, ensures effective and sustainable implementation of the initiatives.

In the coming years, the CSM will seek to consolidate instruments that expand the access of migrants and their families to basic rights, reinforcing integration as a vector of prosperity and social cohesion in South America.

MIGRATION GOVERNANCE TOWARDS COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MIGRANT SMUGGLING:

The member states maintain their commitment to prevent, combat, and punish human trafficking and migrant smuggling through coordinated, systematic, and evidence-based actions. In line with the 2025-2026 Plan, priority is given to strengthening mechanisms for exchanging information, data analysis to identify crime patterns, and operational coordination between migration, security, and justice authorities. The Network will promote regional prevention campaigns, the updating of reporting and assistance protocols, and capacity building.

In recognition of the role of the Regional Platform against Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (PRETT) as the main regional forum on the subject, the CSM articulates its work plan with the actions prioritized by the Platform, ensuring complementarity with regional campaigns, operational guides, training spaces and inter-institutional cooperation mechanisms. In this way, the countries of the region are moving towards more coordinated and effective responses to these transnational crimes.

MIGRATION GOVERNANCE TOWARDS CONSULAR PROTECTION AND COOPERATION:

The member countries express their willingness to continue working on inclusive migration policies with a focus on consular protection and coordination, with emphasis on children and adolescents in the South American region and other groups in situations of vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of having information, data, and periodic records for the implementation of guides aimed at their assistance and protection.

They recognize the need to update consular cooperation protocols that allow officials to be trained to deal with complex situations, such as disasters, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling. They highlight the important work of consular services, which is to assist and save lives, providing spaces for consular coordination in countries of accreditation and management.

MIGRATION GOVERNANCE TOWARDS INTEGRATED BORDER MANAGEMENT:

The CSM will continue to promote efforts aimed at working together in the field of integrated border management, with the purpose of moving towards safer and more orderly boundaries. In this context, the CSM favors a regional approach that promotes the interoperability of migration systems, the continuous training of personnel and the harmonization of procedures.

The CSM will continue to collaborate to improve border infrastructure and connectivity, building mutual trust and technical cooperation. These efforts reflect the shared will of countries to strengthen border management focused on human rights, inclusion and integration as pillars of sustainable development.

MIGRATION GOVERNANCE TOWARDS DISASTERS, CLIMATE CHALLENGES AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION:

The CSM reaffirms the commitment of Member Countries to the protection of displaced persons in contexts of disasters, climate challenges, and environmental degradation. The mechanism will promote the incorporation of protection measures into national and regional adaptation and risk management plans, ensuring the inclusion of migrants and their families in emergency preparedness and response.

Likewise, coordinated actions will be promoted to strengthen resilience and reduce risks, including the realization of a simulation exercise on cross-border displacement aimed at authorities of foreign affairs, migration and disaster risk management. The development of public-private partnerships, the promotion of the insurance sector to build social resilience, and investment in integrated risk management will be encouraged. In addition, regional workshops will be organized to incorporate climate-induced human mobility into adaptation and risk reduction strategies, consolidating supportive and sustainable migration governance in South America.

They commend the development of the virtual training on the "CLIMB" database, with the support of the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD), as well as the South American Dialogue on Inclusive Disaster Preparedness delivered by IOM in the City of Quito.

The CSM calls for strengthening the relationship with other regional mechanisms and instances:

The Member States are committed to addressing migration as a pillar of regional integration and development, highlighting coordination with the Andean Community (CAN), MERCOSUR and CARICOM.

They highlight the joint work with the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) and urge progress on the bi-regional commitments made at the VI Plenary Meeting held in October in San José, Costa Rica.

They express their willingness to address the migration agenda with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), especially during the PPTs of Colombia at present and that of Uruguay as of April 2026.

Agree to propose to the Brasilia Consensus that the South American Migration Plan towards the 2035 integration of the CSM and in particular, the 2025-2026 Plans of the Networks act as a roadmap for the treatment of migration issues.

The importance of the participation of States at the national and regional levels in the next International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) is highlighted in order to make visible the efforts made to reach the agreements of the Global Compact on Migration.  Member States call for agreeing on a South American position before the Forum is held in 2026.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

The Pro Tempore Presidency of Brazil announces that it has received Uruguay's candidacy to assume the Pro Tempore Presidency of the XXIV South American Conference on Migration. The Member States accepted this nomination and, after concluding the XXIII Plenary Meeting, an Intersessional Session will be held in Brasilia for the formal handover.

The Pro Tempore Presidency of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay will guide the CSM under the motto: "Strengthening migration governance with special emphasis on the protection and well-being of migrant children and adolescents, guaranteeing the defense and exercise of their rights."

Lastly, they acknowledge the Brazilian State for its leadership in the Pro Tempore Presidency of the XXIII CSM and IOM for its work as Technical Secretariat. They renew their commitment to continue these efforts to benefit migrants in South America.

In witness whereof, the present document is signed in the Spanish, Portuguese and English languages, the three texts being equally authentic.