Navigating the Northern Triangle: Part 2

“I believe that corruption affects the whole country in every way. And when state money is not used in sustained public policy to combat poverty, inequality, malnutrition, or for entrepreneurship, the citizens of a country do not find options, and leave their country for lack of opportunities.” Congressman Nineth Montenegro, former Second Vice President of the Congress of Guatemala & Human Rights Leader.

Key Links

• USAID Programming in the Northern Triangle
• USAID Increases Efforts to Address Irregular Migration
• CNN en Español: llegan a Guatemala hambrientos y sin zapatos, aseguran autoridades
• El Periodico: la dictadura saca la garras
• Ojo Con Mi Pisto: Educación alimentaria: clave para optimizar el empleo de remesas
• Ojo Con Mi Pisto: Caquipec transforma las remesas en desarrollo para la comunidad

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Irregular migration is a global crisis responsible for critical health, economic, security, and citizenship issues everywhere.  So, have you ever wondered about the so-called “pull-factors” that cause people to leave their homes and flee the Northern Triangle? 

In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we dive head first into the issue of immigration in Guatemala as we talk to a few people who have witnessed the problem first-hand.  We’ll visit with a couple of the consortium’s partners who traveled to the tiny border town of El Ceibo between Mexico and Guatemala, and hear more about their work strengthening Guatemala's government to alleviate the problem on its own.  

Plus, her husband was one of the 40,000 people tragically “disappeared” from the streets of Guatemala City in the 1980s.  Guatemalan Congressman Nineth Montenegro, former Second Vice President of the Congress of Guatemala, and a well-known human rights leader, gives a candid account of what she suffered during the country's conflict, and how it dramatically transformed her life into one of public service.  She shares her greatest wish for her country and even explains why some Guatemalans have come to love the infamous “coyotes”, when she sits down with Adrienne.  

Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award.  

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Democracy! The Podcast is hosted by CEPPS and Adrienne Ross. 

This podcast has been produced by the Consortium for Elections, and Political Process Strengthening through the Global Elections and Political Transitions award and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development.

Opinions expressed here are those of the host and the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.  This show is produced by