H.E. Ambassador Reyes Stresses to GFDD the Need to Restructure Institutions in the Northern Triangle to Address the Issue of Child Migration

Concluding the final edition of its online broadcast program “GFDD Global Roundtables” on Friday December 19, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) welcomed H. E. Ambassador Jorge Alberto Milla Reyes, Ambassador of Honduras to the United States of America. The session focused on the topical issue of migration at the South US Border and the increasing rates of child migrants leaving the Americas.

Ambassador Milla Reyes pointed in particular to the increasing levels of child migration which were reported in the media as having doubled over the last 2 years. The Ambassador explained that thanks to the efforts of the government of Honduras, several national reforms had allowed a specialized police
force to patrol the borders and stem the levels of child migrants illegally entering the US.

He explained that despite these successful procedures, the problem remained overall a regional one which the Northern Triangle, composed of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador would need to resolve. The session next turned to the recent attempt by the Northern Triangle to address the root causes of insecurity brought about by the drug trade and organized crime. Ambassador Milla
Reyes confirmed that a new partnership had been concluded, involving a pragmatic plan seeking to improve public safety, access to justice and strengthen institutions (the most vital components for long standing redress of the public’s trust in all three countries).

The session concluded on a positive note with the Ambassador expressing hope for his people following President Obama’s recent decision to extend the Temporary Protected Status of Hondurans living in the United States.

About H.E. Jorge Alberto Milla
Reyes
Ambassador Milla Reyes started his career in 1979 working for a law firm in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. After 1982, he joined the Foreign Ministry and was sent as officer in charge of consular affairs on several overseas postings in Spain, El Salvador, Mexico and then Nicaragua. From 2002 to 2009 he served as Ambassador to several countries including Ecuador, Bolivia and Nicaragua. In 2010, he was finally sent to Washington, to serve as minister of human rights at the
Honduran embassy and the Honduran representative to the Organization of American States, before being appointed deputy chief of mission and finally ambassador in his country’s Washington Embassy.

Ambassador Milla Reyes has a degree in law and social sciences, a diploma in international studies and a Doctor of Laws. He has written a book entitled “Costa Rica y Nicaragua: Historias de un Arreglo de Fronteras” (History of the Borders). Since taking over his country’s mission, much of his time has been
spent protecting the interests of the immigrants, both children and adults, who have come to the United States from Honduras.

About GFDD Global Roundtables
In close association with the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the UN, GFDD organizes regular meetings with UN Ambassadors and other prominent figures in the international community in an effort to spread the news, knowledge and understanding of other
countries, global issues and work of different UN bodies to its audience in the Dominican Republic, the US and around the world.

The regular series ”GFDD Global Roundtables” is also a part of GFDD’s program to support the work of the United Nations and, as a non-governmental institution affiliated to it, contribute to the visibility and understanding of its work.

Related links:
http://www.oas.org
www.gfddglobalroundtable.org