Tijuana, Baja California – The Tijuana municipal government under Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz strengthened its child protection strategies by training key public servants in collaboration with the international aid organization Save the Children. The workshop—titled “Legal Framework for Protecting the Rights of Children and Adolescents in Human Mobility Contexts”—armed municipal liaisons with the knowledge and tools to support minors in transit and refuge situations.
The training took place at municipal headquarters and brought together first-contact delegates from a wide range of departments, including the Offices of the Mayor, City Council, Education, Social Development, Economic Development, Territorial Planning, Women’s Institute and Migrant Services. Over the course of the day, participants engaged in a blend of theoretical discussion and practical exercises.
Topics ranged from the meaning of diversity and inclusion to the right to education for children on the move. Trainers guided officials through Mexico’s legal norms governing access to schooling for refugee and migrant minors, and clarified distinctions between refugees and migrants. By deepening staff understanding of these issues, the city aims to create clear referral pathways when vulnerable children require specialized support.
Mayor Burgueño’s municipal system for comprehensive child and adolescent protection (SMPINNA) coordinator, Marisol Hernández Sotelo, emphasized the value of the workshop. She noted that well-informed first contacts are crucial for linking children with the institutions that defend their rights. “I thank all department liaisons for their active participation,” Hernández Sotelo said. “Together with Save the Children, we are bolstering our municipal capacity to care for these young people.”
Diana Esmeralda Mokien Paniagua, protection officer for Save the Children in Tijuana, highlighted the organization’s decades of work in Mexico and its focus on youth in mobility contexts. “We seek to sensitize municipal leaders on the right to education in migration settings,” she said. “There is a clear pathway for school access for these children, and we want every official to know how to navigate it.”
With this initiative, the Tijuana Government strengthens child protection strategies by promoting a culture of comprehensive safeguarding and amplifying staff skills in human rights–based care. The city reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of minors, particularly those facing vulnerability due to migration or displacement.
Moving forward, the municipal government plans to integrate these lessons into daily operations and to convene follow-up sessions that reinforce best practices. By ensuring that every department liaison can act swiftly and knowledgeably, Tijuana aims to set a benchmark for local governments responding to the needs of migrant children and adolescents.
This workshop marks a key step in Tijuana’s broader effort to guarantee safe, timely and rights-respecting services for all minors in its urban area. The city’s leadership continues to call on residents to support these measures and to help identify young people who might benefit from the strengthened protection network.
