Displacement in Latin America no longer a series of isolated events- ProLAC partners

Displacement in Latin America is no longer a series of isolated events—it has become a widespread and systemic outcome of persistent violence, ProLAC partners, a regional protection monitoring initiative led by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), has warned. The failure to establish effective legal frameworks to recognise and protect internally displaced people leaves thousands without access to the support and safeguards they urgently need.

“Families across the region are being forced from their homes, their livelihoods, and their communities by violence. Their lives are turned upside down as they try to seek safety, yet they are going unsupported and becoming increasingly invisible,” said Stine Paus, NRC’s regional director for Latin America. 

“Governments across the region must urgently recognise internal displacement as a humanitarian and protection crisis. Without protective laws and services, families will continue to be displaced multiple times and denied their rights.” 

While these situations do not constitute armed conflict in the strict legal sense, they fall under the definition of ‘other situations of violence’, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Despite this distinction, the level of humanitarian consequences generated is often no less severe. 

“People flee to save their lives, yet displacement does not guarantee safety. Returning is not an option for most displaced families. Ninety-five per cent of families we surveyed told us they would face risks if they returned, and seven out of ten said they fear for their lives. We cannot simply ignore the extreme dangers people are facing,” said Paus.

Across the four countries surveyed, almost three-quarters of displaced people reported going into hiding, half of them restricted their movements, and a third lost their income. Despite this, two thirds have not reported their situation to any authority – often due to the absence of legal frameworks and widespread distrust in institutions.

Each country surveyed has specific risks and dangers, which are important to recognise. In Mexico, a quarter of those interviewed—while not displaced—were living in contexts of generalised violence primarily driven by organised criminal groups and reported experiences of extortion. Alarmingly, nearly half of the families in Mexico who reported extortion also indicated they had been victims of kidnapping. 

In Ecuador, three out of ten displaced families surveyed were forced to flee twice. Many families reported being extorted some simultaneously by different groups. This forced them to flee and losing their jobs, businesses and ability to support themselves.

Children and adolescents are also at risk in Ecuador. Recruitment by criminal groups often begins in schools and community spaces, where young people face intimidation, threats, and even violence. These coercive tactics are frequently downplayed as mere ‘invitations’. For instance, a key informant in Ecuador said: “Even school-aged youth are targeted—like the boy who was ‘invited’ to work in mining. It wasn’t forced, but the fear of being drawn in remains”.

The threat of extortion is also present in Honduras: “Sometimes they just leave a note saying, ‘You have so many hours to leave or you have to pay me this amount every Friday’… This happens in many communities. In some places, people flee out of fear and leave everything behind,” said a woman working to support displaced people in Honduras.

In Guatemala, extortion by criminal groups is a significant concern, with four out of ten internally displaced people reported being affected by this threat. Across Guatemala and Honduras, two out of ten families reported being forced to flee more than once. These secondary displacements are largely driven by persistent insecurity and widespread violence, often linked to the continued presence of criminal groups.

The situation is further exacerbated by the lack of legal recognition for internally displaced people in all countries surveyed. In 2022, Honduras has enacted a law on internal displacement, however it lacks both regulation and funding for implementation. Guatemala has made initial progress, and some states in Mexico have adopted legal frameworks, but there is still no national law in place. Ecuador currently lacks any legal framework specifically addressing the rights and needs of internally displaced people. 

“The legal vacuum has real consequences for displaced people. The lack of official recognition of internal displacement limits access to humanitarian assistance, justice, reparations, and durable solutions,” said Yann Cornic, DRC’s regional operations director.

“States must prioritise legal frameworks, ensure access to services regardless of documentation status, and protect children and youth from recruitment and exploitation.” 

NRC and DRC call for inclusive policy development, community participation in implementation, and targeted protection and reparation for children and youth, recognising them as victims.

“We are working with displaced communities to document risks, support access to services, and advocate for durable solutions. But without political will, these efforts will fall short,” said Cornic.