Leadership and collaboration with other States and stakeholders, for the global promotion, development and facilitation of spaces for exchange and peer learning on alternatives to immigration detention and ending immigration detention of children and adol

Through the Alternatives to Detention Working Group of the Migration Network, Colombia has been identified as a key actor in the implementation of Goal 13 through spaces for exchange and learning that, based on international cooperation, explore good practices, challenges and ways to support and progress (Goal 23).

Colombia is a global benchmark in terms of rights-based migration management that does not rely on the use of detention. It is worth noting the strong framework, both legislative and public policy and practice, of non-detention of children. Colombia has played a key role in organizing global peer learning meetings on alternatives to immigration detention: "Case Management for Resolution: Expanding Alternatives to Detention" and "Highlighting Alternatives to Detention in the FEMI".

Colombia's commitment to share lessons learned and challenges, and to contribute from its referent role, was reflected, among others, at the highest level through a message from the First Lady. Thus, Colombia is committed to continue promoting and taking a leadership role in the promotion, development and facilitation of global peer learning meetings between States on alternatives to detention and ending the detention of children. In this leadership role, it will encourage collaboration with other States for the organization of these global peer learning meetings, especially with other members of the Champion Countries Initiative. In order to advance effective implementation at the local and national level, Colombia will prioritize the whole-of-governmental approach, encouraging the effective participation of relevant government entities and actors. It will also prioritize the collaboration and support of civil society organizations and the Migration Network.

 UPDATE: 4/JUL/23

Efforts have been made to protect migrant children and to share best practices in this regard, including maintaining regularization efforts, participating in and organizing forums to call foralternatives to immigration detention and ending immigration detention of children andadolescents. Given the successive nature of the pledge it will continue to be implemented.

Colombia has received a mixed, constant and massive migratory flow of approximately 2.8 million Venezuelan migrants, of which around 26% correspond to children and adolescents between 0 and 18 years of age.
Colombia does not contemplate the detention of children and adolescents. In effect, it considers that all of them must be protected and are subject to special protection without any distinction based on their nationality or immigration status, much less if they are unaccompanied or separated from their family nucleus.
In this sense, and in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, theAmerican Declaration of Human Rights and the principle of non-discrimination recognized in the Colombian Childhood and Adolescence Code, the detention of children and adolescents is considered in Colombia as a conduct that generates irreparable repercussions, for which reason it recognizes that minors, regardless of their nationality, must be guaranteed their family environment or support network, providing a physical and affective space that allows them to feel protected and loved.
In accordance with the above, the Colombian State has developed a series of strategies, namely: 
The so-called "Children First", which is based on the principle of international protection andallowed Colombian nationality to be granted as of September 2019 to all children ofVenezuelan parents born in Colombia since January 2015.
The ETPV contemplates differential actions focused on children and adolescents and is based on highly relevant principles such as non-discrimination, equality, the best interest andfamily unity, among others, with the purpose of protecting the Venezuelan migrant andespecially to the children and adolescents, to whom it guaranteed their best interest in all theprocedures.
• Based on this approach, in the implementation of the ETPMV, innovative tools have been developed to guarantee the protection of the rights of children and adolescents.
• Prioritizing the analysis of the information provided.
• Establishing that minors under 7 years of age should not carry out biometrics.
• Prioritizing those who are enrolled in an institution education, guaranteeing their permanence in the system, and to those who finished their schooling to allow them access tohigher education.
Consequently, in the construction and implementation of routes to advance in the fulfillment of objective No. 13 of the Global Compact providing pathways for regularization is key andcontributes to the effective protection of children’s rights. It is also essential to work closely with the public sector, the private sector, International Cooperation agencies and Civil Society, considering the positive impact generated by collaborative work and its effectiveness in managing migrations.
On May 24, 2023, the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the UN in Geneva participated in the "Global peer learning exchange on working to end child detention in the context ofinternational migration", highlighting Colombia's leadership as a country that does not use migrant detention. Colombia shared best practices and highlighted the recent IOM workshop held in Colombia, sponsored by Canada, which was aimed at providing human rights training to different state actors that directly or indirectly deal with migrants. 
The Mission has called on the countries to hold a sincere and interactive dialogue in thesecond half of 2023 at the Mission's facilities. The latter will be organized with the support ofUNICEF, the Coalition Against Migrant Detention and the Network. 
In the framework of the 53rd Human Rights Council, the Colombian Mission expressly requested that the issue of alternatives to detention be included in the Resolution on Human Rights of Migrants led by Mexico.
Colombia, as a state committed to human rights, reiterates its willingness to join forces at theregional and global levels, and will continue to learn, work, and share our good practices toprotect and end the detention of migrant children and adolescents.

LAST UPDATED: 16 AUGUST 2023

At the initiative of the Permanent Mission of Colombia in Geneva on June 22, 2023, it was proposed to include in the Resolution "Human rights of migrants: prevention and accountability for human rights violations in transit" adopted during the 53rd Human Rights Council (attached) the following text based on the Resolution 76/152, paragraph five a and b, which was subsequently adopted.

11. It further urges States to put an end to arbitrary arrest and detention, and encourages States to seek alternatives to detention, taking note of measures that have been successfully implemented by some States, and to work to end the detention of migrant children;

Colombia was supported by Ecuador, Morocco, Costa Rica, Egypt, Panama, Paraguay, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Turkey, Nigeria, Jamaica and the United States.