The diversity of national, cultural, linguistic and ethnic origins has opened up an opportunity for Argentina to work on integration, social cohesion and non-discrimination from an intercultural and human rights perspective, with an increasing need for an awareness-raising campaign to facilitate settlement and integration of migrants in the host communities.

In 2020, in partnership with the Human Rights Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, a national strategy was developed to ensure a more diverse cultural approach. It aims at encouraging actions to improve the reception and integration of migrants and refugees in Argentina and to strengthen the institutional capacities of government agencies, local governments, and organizations of the civil society responsible for providing services and guidance to migrants and refugees, while putting into practice a culturally sensitive and human rights-based approach. Within this framework, IOM Argentina led and financed the development of a Guide to strengthen the intercultural and human rights perspective for those who train civil servants. In preparation of this guide organizations from various provinces that serve migrants, refugees, Afro-descendants and indigenous populations were interviewed.

To promote migrants’ access to employment and to create more inclusive, plural and respectful work environment, IOM Argentina, the General Directorate of Collectivities, and the Undersecretariat of Human Rights and Cultural Pluralism of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, launched a series of workshops on intercultural communication aimed at the private sector. Five companies have participated in the workshops to date, and the key topics covered are: current migration trends; promoting an intercultural approach at work; encouraging respect for and appreciation of migrants; recognizing migrants’ contributions to the host communities; labor rights; intercultural communication; equal treatment of and non-discrimination towards migrants; and removing prejudices and stereotypes towards migrants. As a result of this joint effort, a booklet titled “Migration, Human Rights and Intercultural Communication in a Work Environment”, was developed to allow private sector organizations to broaden their knowledge on migration matters and on the regulatory frameworks in Argentina and to put into practice an intercultural and human rights approach in their company. The booklets were delivered to each company, and IOM Argentina also disseminated the material on IOM website and social media.  The training and the booklet emphasized that migrants are allowed to take up employment even when they do not have a permanent resident status.