Welcome. Thank you to everyone joining us in person and online for this important discussion about Central America. I want to thank our speakers for being here. I know you are in gravely busy. Thank you for being here. I want to start we have molly mccoy he here, and we were just discussing with you, we typically dont include the department of labor, and im so glad you are here with us today. Wally is the associate deputy under secretary for affairs. At the department of labor. We also have mullaney clark a from the Deputy Assistant administration of the bureau of latin america and the caribbean and the usaid. Tremendous work being done in that region. An arab jacob. A close friend of this dialogue, who is Deputy Assistant secretary in the bureau of affairs that the department, and you moved over there how long ago . About a month ago. You have been deeply embedded in these issues for a long time before that. So, i think everyone here is tracking that Central America is experiencing one of its most complex and difficult. Since the 80s. This includes, but it is not limited to the alarming and deliberate substantial laying of essential freedoms, the continued irregular migration and the slow Economic Growth with limited opportunities for citizens. In this context, we will have the opportunity to hear updates on the Biden Harris Administration strategy to address root causes of migration and also the Central American sports program. We are also going to have a chance to hear about what is happening in the pacific countries, including guatemala at the president ial election, which we are all watching closely. Further dissent into authoritarianism, and the great Human Rights Violations in el salvador. I want to get straight to the substantive discussion. We will turn things over to manwell, who is the director of interamerican dialogue, with migration develop a program. Welcome to everyone. Thank you to our panelists for joining us to this conversation. I think everyone is excited. I dont know who is more excited, them or the questions you come prepared to ask, or you, for the questions youve brought to them. But, theres definitely a lot of interest in the region, and i must say, we are just trying to mention some of the issues in this region. One of the realities is that we are dealing with at least three Police States in america. Salvador, honduras and nicaragua. Really, they are pushing the envelope all the way towards very limited freedom of expression and other political leaders. We also have progress with migration, so, i think we have a lot of challenges, particularly to the extent to which it is difficult to tell right now which countries doing better or which country is actually performing the worst. But, as we will add later, the questions i have, they are asking about a Silver Lining. Any case, i think what i would like to start with is to give a sense from you three about what has the work done so far, as the by demonstration and then move from there to some followup questions on that part. Thank you, and welcome. Take you. Thank you rebecca and your american dialogue, as in interamerican dialogue, it is necessary for the homecoming to be back here, so a pleasure to be here and a delight to be with you as well. Just, quickly, starting out, blinded made harris demonstration has a strategy read the idea is to provide an opportunity to the people of Central America. A firm belief that the secure and prosperous future lies with the individual home communities. In our view, the root cause of the strategy not only benefits these communities, but starts to serve as a tool regional stability to advance the Economic Prosperity and National Security about Central America and the united states. So, under Vice President harriss leadership, the administration has launched 4 billion for your strategy in 2021. The idea is to generate Sustainable Living conditions for all people throughout the region. And as many of you know quite well, the root cause of the strategy focuses on several areas. Grading jobs. Ruining a governance, protecting human rights. And improving security so ultimately, Central America can build futures at home. And ensure that individuals dont have to make the journey north read from the start, i would say the administration approaches a difference from that. And, there is a recognition of the importance of two drivers of migration that are not necessarily front and center in review strategies. One of those is genderbased violence, the other is human rights. These are two standalone pillars of the strategy. So, let me say at the top, as manwell and rebeccas make clear, the issue and Central America is obviously a longterm challenge. We are clear right that change will not happen overnight. Our efforts require intention and collaboration. They certainly require commitment to good governance. From our partners in the region. Ultimately, without strong governance, it is hard to make progress across different areas of strategy from becoming prosperity to security, whatever it may be. I would say, we are not naive or pollyanna about this. But at the same time, you know, the government is taking a significant step with the root cause strategy, and we are all excited to be here today because we hope events like this will shed light on the efforts, even as the challenges remain extremely deep. With the strategy, we are addressing the q factor that drive the regular migration. From north and Central America, those include natural disasters, water and Food Insecurity and all of which are exacerbated by Climate Change. With longterm chronic structures, it includes as weve discussed extreme poverty, genderbased violence, Citizen Security more governance, and eight to make corruption. With the respecting rule of law with Civil Society, the free and independent press, they are always leak crucial to achieving these goals, and unsurprisingly, we saw of a lot of work to do and these areas. Central america is this group is well aware is increasing its attacks against Democratic Institutions, against transparency and rule of law. We will continue to support actors in this region who defend democratic government, and you can see that happening today. The most obvious way we are doing that is partnering as a government with the organizations, with the european union, with likeminded countries. Pushing back on efforts to undermine watermelon institutions. That is like the electoral tribunal, and we will get more into the share during the conversation, but zooming out for a second, in guatemala, over the last year, the root cause of the strategy limitation, the state department and usa supported more than 1500 Human Rights Defenders and also train more than 300 journalists in that. That supported and quickly provided in embattled Human Rights Defender and Civil Society organization through emergency assistance, through supporting these individuals. You all know about the voice initiative, or some of you do, where the u. S. Government is bringing together all of its resources, public and private diplomacy, foreign assistance, and oarsman authorities to protect, defend, and promote civic space throughout america. Not just in north or Central America. With nicaragua as well. There were some digital authorities promoting freedom of expression and strengthening independent media. But also, countering the criminalization and providing protection for those who are targeted. The tools are not limited to foreign assistance and diplomacy. On july 19, the government released the latest public list of a consistency with 353 of the northern triangle with an enhanced engagement, and it designated individuals who engage in significant acts of corruption or undermine Democratic Institutions, and that is in el salvador, honduras, and nicaragua are that reporting requirement as well. And, this reporting is a public name and shame efforts, but it also requires individuals are ineligible for the u. S. Our feeling is that this is been a critical tool in holding individuals accountable. To date, weve published a hundred 69 entries on the 353 list over the past three years. That includes where you from guatemala, 31 from el salvador, 35 from honduras and 35 from nicaragua. Turning to the economic side briefly, Vice President harris heads move Central America forward with the partnership or Central America to create good jobs in the region under Central America forward, companies have committed to invest over 4. 2 billion dollars in the region and these investors are creating jobs and have connected 4 Million People to the internet and brought more than one Million People to the formal financial economy they have trained almost 500,000 people Workforce Skills including digital and language skills. Its not just about investment alone. Our private sector engagement, we are aiming to use it to reinforce the importance of the rule of law and good governance. Through that, the state department and the partnership of Central America recently launched the good governance, good jobs joint check declaration and the idea being to hold individuals accountable and hold Companies Accountable with the ability to force companies to exit the partnership if they are not living up to that pledge. I would briefly ive talked about the strategy but Migration Management very much complements the strategy. A little over a year ago, the u. S. And 20 countries endorsed los angeles declaration of migration protection on the margins ofs of the americas. Its been a really critical tool in terms of ensuring companies are aligned and best practices and strategies to create conditions for safe, orderly and humane migration. As we continue to carry out robust enforcement efforts, the administration has taken historic steps to increase lawful pathways. You see that in june, 20 23 through the announcement of safe mobility offices in costa rica and columbia and guatemala and the initial sixmonth phase of these offices. The ideas to facilitate access to protections to other lawful pathways in the u. S. In addition , our commitment to continue to consider thousands of additional individuals in the western hemisphere through settlement through the u. S. Refugee admissions process. I would just conclude here by saying that this is not limited to Central America. Last week, or Homeland Security advisor met with mexican leaders to announce a new program in mexico with the Mexican Government to offer new refugee and labor options in the u. S. Is committing through that for settlement efforts for cubans, haitians, and mexico which complements the existing program. By no means, its a victory lap or Mission Complete moment. These are longterm challenges. Its important to show we feel we are moving the needle and offer transparency about the ongoing challenges. I look forward to the conversation with you all here. Thank you. Ok, thanks, eric and good afternoon everyone. Buenos tardes. I want to thank you for organizing todays event. I dont think we have had one in a while so im glad you invited us. Thank you all of you attending here in person but also i think we have a big crowd joining virtually. I think eric really gave an excellent overview of the root strategy which builds on a lot of the work usaid has done for a long time like create jobs and fight corruption and empower the most vulnerable and much more. Also, as he alluded to, we are clear the strategy in itself is not a panacea. Otherwise, we would not see the undermining of elections or attacks on anticorruption activist and so much more. Despite the challenges we face, i think theres been a positive development in all the free countries the strategy targets. This administrations commitment to northern and Central America includes one of the most robust foreign assistant packages we have seen in three decades. Its enabling usaid to double down on approaches that work. From fy 21fy 22, or budget increased by almost 40 . We have not seen the levels of resources we are seeing since i would say the beginning of the early 1990s. We also see signs of the root cause strategy programming is affecting migration. We have data showing that individuals who process of faith in our programs in areas of high migration now intend to migrate at a rate nearly 80 lower than the general population. The administrations focus on migration goes beyond the root cause of strategy. We are taking a holistic approach because these large movements of people have political, social and Economic Impacts across the hemisphere. Thats where the collaborative Migration Management strategy late the ground for the declaration on migration and protection which eric highlighted. It was lost last year and the declaration has encouraged further collaboration with 20 latin american countries in the hemisphere and not only to address the root causes but also to expand lawful pathways in integrating migrants into those countries. Into host countries. We support humane migration throughout our region. Our work with the governments of guatemala and san salvador and honduras has doubled the number of Seasonal Workers so credit to fill labor critical critical labor gaps in the u. S. We continued we expect the numbers to continue to grow. Some relationships are critical to making progress in the partners we forge have helped us address the full scope of the challenge. Tackling corruption, promoting human rights and democratic principles. Genderbased violence is also a real challenge for the region. Latin america and the caribbean are home to a staggering 14 of the 25 countries with the World Highest rate of semicide. Honduras is the worst rate, women genderbased violence as a reason for migrating at almost twice the rate of men. Last year alone, or programs provided services to more than 30,000 survivors. Were also reaching people in new ways. We partner with the largest media conglomerate in honduras to air a series for overcoming the past which reached 3. 8 Million People. Episodes featuring genderbased violence and Cyber Bullying served as the start of a Public Awareness campaign and brought this issue to the forefront of the national conversation. He gave clear and hopeful messages to women and young people. Corruption is also another area of focus for usaid. This President Biden has said, corruption is a cancer that eats away at citizen faith and democracy. It weighs a ton of entire generations, scares investments in jobs and denies people their dignity. According to the 2021 Americas Barometer report, and astounding three in five citizens from the region believe there is widespread corruption among politicians. In response, usaid programs trained more than 8000 government officials and representatives last year, empowering people with knowledge of the ethical norms of their roles and the capacity to act against corruption so they can hold criminals accountable and build public trust in institutions. That trust is critical to upholding the Democratic Values celeste year, usaid and the department of state, we launched voices, the Initiative Investment to amplify Democratic Values such as transparency and accountability. It supports our work alongside those standing up her democracy and human rights including independent media. As we look ahead to the coming year, we see strong headwinds across north and Central America. There is potential for election interference, increasing signs of authoritarianism and crackdowns on freedom of expression. We seen this before. You can look no further than nicaragua for a sense of what happens when leaders direct Civil Society persecution, closure of Media Outlets and attacks on religious institutions and individuals. We dont want to see that repeated in north and Central Americas will continue to work alongside our neighbors in the region while remaining vigilant and outspoken. Thank you and i look forward to the exchange after. Thank you. I would like to thank the dialogue for the invitation and its really a pleasure to be here. If i had to caption under myself, i probably wouldnt see that but the department of labor is happy to be here. Rebeccas opening point that there has not been a lot of engagement with the department of labor and i would say in general, its sort of known in Foreign Policy spaces but the reason we are here and talking about the root