The 62-page report, “‘This Hell Was My Only Option’: Abuses Against Migrants and Asylum Seekers Pushed to Cross the Darién Gap,” is the first in a series of Human Rights Watch reports on migration via the Darién Gap. Human Rights Watch found that restrictions on movement from South American countries to Mexico and Central America, often promoted by the United States government, have helped contribute to sharp increases in numbers of people crossing the Darién Gap. This exposes migrants to abuses, including sexual violence, and empowers organized crime in the area.
News and Press Release in English on World and 5 other countries about Protection and Human Rights and Shelter and Non-Food Items; published on 17 May 2023 by UNHCR
Clements started her trip in Brazil, visiting Afghan refugees in Sao Paulo's international airport and in one of the 11 shelters for Afghan families provided by the city’s authorities.