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Refugees UNHCR

Trust the Toucan: UNHCR’s Campaign to Protect Refugees and Migrants  

Natalie Angel

How Combating Misinformation is Helping Refugees Make Informed Decisions on Their Journeys to Safety

In today’s digital age, social media has become a crucial part of our everyday lives. But for some, it is a lifeline. Programs such as the UNHCR’s Trust the Toucan Program leverages the power of social media to aid refugees and migrants on their journey to refuge across the Darien Gap. 

In May of 2023, The United Nations Refugee Agency announced the launch of the “Trust the Toucan” Program, a social media project aimed at combating the spread of misinformation about the Darien Gap. The program, featured on platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, honors “El Tucán” a character–that culturally symbolizes guidance support, whose mission is to counter false information and offer reliable details about the perilous jungle route between Colombia and Panama. 

 

 

@nguyenbeta291? original sound – nguyenbeta291

 

 

The UNHCR program endeavors to support individuals crossing the Darien Gap in their search for safety. This jungle passage stands as one of the most dangerous migrant routes in the world. Among the threats of nature itself such as treacherous terrain and wildlife, migrants often are vulnerable to criminal groups who exploit the region’s lack of security to perpetrate human trafficking, robbery, and violence. 

In the past few years, an increasing number of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees have crossed the Darien Gap. The majority of these migrants come from Venezuela, Haiti, Ecuador, and other countries from South America and the Caribbean. However, some have hailed from other regions across the world such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. According to a report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), more than 520,000 migrants have crossed the Darien in 2023 alone, “more than 40 times the annual average between 2010 and 2020.”

 

 

 

 

According to a report from UNHCR on the Trust the Toucan Program, in 2022, as many as 250,000 people from around 30 different countries crossed the Darien jungle in search of safety and opportunity. Of that figure, “at least 38% of people arriving in Darien get their information through Facebook and almost 10% through TikTok.”

For some crossing the Darien Gap is their only means of escaping danger, yet many find themselves in the face of danger along this treacherous journey. However, the “Toucan” serves as a crucial guide for the migrants of the Darien. The “Trust the Toucan” pages (on TikTok and Facebook) include vital information on the dangers of the route in hopes of combating violence and human trafficking, which were all threats identified in surveys conducted with refugees and migrants. 

According to a Q&A with Bryan Brennan, a Digital Communications Associate in the Protection Unit of UNHCR’s Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Panama, “the Trust the Toucan campaign tackles misinformation on the internet and social media by leveraging quantitative and qualitative data. This data enables UNHCR to pinpoint the key narratives of misinformation that specifically impact refugees and migrants, creating verified content.” Furthermore, Brennan shares that the Toucan platform, “disseminates reliable guidance on seeking asylum and accessing regular pathways, empowering informed decision-making processes.”

“El Tucán” pages also bring to light real stories of individuals who have risked their lives crossing the dangerous Darien Gap. As Brennan states, “Equally remarkable is the willingness of people to share their stories after enduring the dangerous jungle crossing. When refugees and migrants realize that their testimonies can protect others, they willingly contribute.”

 

 

@confiaeneltucan “La gente no se imagina, ni sabe a lo que se enfrenta hasta el momento en el que están ahí.” Esto es lo que los guías no te dicen sobre la selva de Darién. No es un paseo, ni una excursión sencilla en el bosque. #Colombia #Venezuela #panama #darien #ecuador #peru #bolivia #paseo #selva #como #info #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #parati ? Sad song by piano and violin(886018) – NOVA

 

 

One story comes from a Venezuelan man, who had camped one night in Darien with a group of other migrants. That night, torrential rains flooded their encampment and fear quickly spread among the group. As the rain began to flood their camp, he witnessed a woman and her baby get swept away into the river. Heroically, he had jumped into the river and rescued both of them. His story not only highlights the dangers that migrants face on their journey but also their courage and bravery to confront these dangers. 

The impact of the “Trust the Toucan” program is evident not only in the lives of refugees and migrants but also in demonstrating that in this era, we can harness the power of digital platforms for good, to spread awareness and most importantly: the truth. It is through sharing accurate information and bringing to light people’s stories, that those crossing the perilous Darien Gap can have greater protection and support in their journey.

 

Natalie Angel | Immigration Correspondent

Natalie Angel is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign pursuing a degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. Her passion for humanitarian justice and advocacy runs deep, fueled by her upbringing by Colombian immigrants who came to the U.S during the Colombian Armed Conflict. This upbringing has instilled a profound desire to help serve communities impacted by conflict. She is especially interested in justice for refugees and newly arrived migrants and the causes of them leaving their homes. Since beginning her studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign she has involved herself in the UNICEF chapter, where she holds a position on the executive board. In this role she actively raises awareness about various humanitarian crises affecting children worldwide–especially in Latin America. She has raised awareness on the plight of children amidst ongoing conflict, advocating for femicide and gender-based violence prevention, combating human trafficking, and addressing the ongoing refugee crisis in regions all over the world. She is excited to work for Latina Republic’s mission because she hopes to shed light on other stories like her parents. Her ultimate goal is to become a humanitarian advocate that works to serve refugees and victims of conflict. She is certain that working with Latina Republic will play an important role in that mission because it will allow her to amplify the voices of those affected by conflict and displacement, and to advocate for policies that promote humanitarian justice and support for refugees and migrants. Natalie believes that through storytelling and advocacy, she can inspire change and create a more compassionate and understanding world for all those impacted by conflict and displacement.

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