Title: Bringing Theater to Migrants and Refugees Amidst 140,000 Asylum Requests in Mexico
Amid a rising wave of forced displacement due to violence, specialists in Mexico are turning to the arts to support migrants and refugees. The theatrical performance “Emigrants” is set to enlighten attendees on the pressing issues of migration and forced displacement.
According to Efrén González Pola, head of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) in Baja California, over 140,000 asylum requests were submitted in Mexico during 2023, placing the nation among the top globally for such requests. In Baja California, more than 10,000 people in various stages of mobility find support at the state’s Multiservice Center, accessing resources from over 20 government and civil entities and international organizations.
The October Festival, themed “Territories of Equality,” seeks to promote peace and inclusion for this sector. Dagmara Mejía, representing the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Baja California, shared that “Emigrants” will be performed in partnership with the Polish embassy and Colombia’s Emerging Theatre Group.
“The play narrates the experiences of a migrant and a refugee, offering insights into discrimination, displacement, and identity,” Mejía explained. In Baja California, diverse cultures and worldviews meet, enriching the region’s cultural tapestry, noted Alma Delia Abregos Ceballos, director of the Baja California Secretariat of Culture.
Performances are slated for various locations: the first on October 12 at the Tijuana State Center for the Arts, with further shows on October 13 at Park Esperanto and October 14 at the Baja California Institute of Cultural Services. This artistic outreach extends to local shelters, such as the Carmen Serdán and Espacio Migrante, enriching the cultural lives of their residents.
Minerva Espinoza Nolasco, Deputy Secretary for Migration Affairs, noted that venues like Juventud 2000 and La Casita de Unión Trans will also host events, in efforts supported by the Institute of Sustainable Mobility.
In conjunction with the October Festival, these events are free and open to the community, emphasizing social inclusion and cultural diversity.
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For more updates and stories, visit TJGringo.com.