Brasília – The IOM Deputy Director General (DDG) for Operations, Ugochi Daniels, visited Brazil from October 29 to November 1 to meet with government and non-governmental partners and to witness firsthand some of the organization's activities in the country. During her stay, she visited Brasília (Federal District) and Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul). 

In the federal capital, to reinforce IOM's support for Brazil, Ugochi Daniels met with representatives of the Federal Government: Special Advisor to the President of the Republic, Audo Faleiro; National Secretary of Justice at the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Jean Uema; and the General Coordinator for Climate Change Adaptation at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Inamara Santos Melo. "I commend Brazil for prioritizing the documentation of migrants as a human right," said the Deputy Director General. 

Ugochi Daniels also met with the UN Resident Coordinator in Brazil, Silvia Rucks, to discuss topics such as the Global Compact for Migration. She attended a dinner hosted by the Ambassador of Ireland, which brought together a group of ambassadors and federal and state government partners to reinforce collective efforts and dialogue on safe, orderly, and dignified migration. 

While in Brasília, the DDG also observed some of the activities carried out by the agency to support migration governance and migrant integration. In a meeting with over 50 representatives from civil society organizations, migrant leaders, and public officials, there was an open forum for public consultation and exchange of experiences regarding the progress of the migration agenda in the Federal District for 2024. 

At SENAI-DF, she visited the facilities in Taguatinga, where training is offered in various fields, including courses in partnership with IOM that include migrants. In the Bakery and Pastry course, which also receives support from the BRB Institute, students practicing the production of coconut rolls and cornbread had the opportunity to speak with the DDG. 

Rio Grande do Sul – Ugochi Daniels' agenda in Brazil also included a visit to Porto Alegre, where she toured the facilities of the Vida Humanitarian Reception Center (CHA Vida), which currently hosts more than 350 individuals who lost their homes due to the floods that hit Rio Grande do Sul in May of this year. This center, along with two other CHAs in the city of Canoas, is managed by IOM in partnership with the Government of Rio Grande do Sul and the Fecomércio/Sesc/Senac System. 

The DDG discussed the collaborative efforts with the state government alongside the Executive Secretary of the Special Projects Office of the Vice-Governor, Clovis Magalhães, and the Technical Assistant for the Special Projects Office of the Vice-Governor, Antonio Cargnin. 

“It’s inspiring to see the results of the work of staff, partners and communities in the humanitarian centre in Porto Alegre”, commented Daniels. “The centre provides more than temporary aid, it is providing opportunities for long-term resilience and lasting transformation for communities in Brazil”, she added.