International cartoon festival topic MIGRATION Venezuela 2025

MIGRATION

LIVES, DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES

This is not a contest, it is an INVITATION to creators,

drawers, painters, engravers, cartoonists,

humorists, visual poets, photographers, and graphic designers

from around the world to capture, through their creativity and original vision,

the phenomenon of migration.

“Outside their homeland, human beings will always search

among the thousands of faces for the one that is familiar

to them in order to grasp the lost thread of their previous life.” OP

Migration is a phenomenon as old as humanity itself, involving the geographical displacement of people, whether voluntary or forced, in search of better living conditions. Today, this phenomenon has gained greater relevance due to a wide range of factors, which vary according to the political, socioeconomic, or geographical context. In our America, social inequality, extreme poverty, unemployment, economic instability due to hyperinflation caused by “sanctions,” “blockades,” and theft of resources, armed conflicts, repression, terrorism, the threat of drug trafficking, organized crime, and paramilitarism, coupled with natural disasters due to climate change, and not to mention the mirage of the United States as “the great American dream,” are the triggers forcing entire communities to seek other territories in the hope of finding better livelihoods.

And currently, the situation is worsening because imperialism and its allies are using migration as a business and a political weapon of subjugation toward countries that oppose it. They create false “narratives,” “fake news,” or “hoaxes” spread on social media, in addition to spurious offers (such as Chile’s 2018 “Democratic Visa” or the US TPS), thus encouraging thousands of citizens to leave their countries. They then renege on these offers and accuse migrants of being criminals or violent terrorists, arbitrarily deporting them and imprisoning them in degrading conditions without any rights.

Regarding the consequences affecting both countries of origin and destination, the following can be highlighted: discrimination (whether based on race, cultural level, or origin), xenophobia exacerbated by the resurgence of neo-fascist tendencies, labor exploitation, family separation, children of migrants separated from their parents, held in “cages” with no way of knowing their whereabouts. Furthermore, what is outrageous is the open admission by US government agencies about the theft of children (now missing) and their placement in “foster homes” without access to information for their recovery.

Despite everything, migration can be transformed into a positive force if it is properly developed. The movement of millions of people brings cultural diversity and scientific development, enriching the social and economic fabric of receiving nations. UNESCO advocates for safe, orderly, and regular migration that respects the rights of migrants and promotes their social inclusion. Education plays a fundamental role in their adaptation, fostering respect for cultural diversity and building inclusive and resilient societies.

IMMIGRATE – EMIGRATE – RESIDENCY – VISA – RAFTERNOONS – SHIPWRECKS

BOATS – RACISM – SLAVERY – FORCED LABOR – DEPORTATIONS – PRISONERS – CRIMINALIZED – XENOPHOBIA – IMPRISONED – DETAINED – DETAINED – EMPIRES COLONIES – ANNEXATION OF TERRITORIES – NORTH / SOUTH – EAST / WEST

BORDERS – WORLD WARS – ARMED CONFLICTS – REIGNS FORCED INVASIONS – DICTATORSHIPS – ETHNIC CLEANSING – POLITICAL PERSECUTION FOREIGNERS – CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS – HUMAN TRAFFICKING – TRAFFICKERS

KIDNAPPINGS – “COYOTES” – ORGAN TRAFFICKING

POPULATION – NATIONS – ETHNIC GROUPS – FOREIGNERS – STATELESS PERSONS – EXTERMINATION

RACES – RELIGIONS – LIMITS – BORDER WALLS – RESIDENTS

PASSPORT – SCHOLARSHIPS – TOURISTS – NATIONALS – FOREIGNERS

FORCED MIGRATION – DISPLACED PERSONS – REFUGEES

MIGRANTS – UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS – ILLEGAL PERSONS – OUTLAWS

For a culture and artistic creation that includes memory, truth, and justice!

ABOUT THE CALL FOR ENTRIES

1. To participate: Send the following information to humorgraficonecesario@gmail.com:

Last name, First name / Pseudonym or artistic signature / Country / Social media address /

2. Image submissions must be made online to humorgraficonecesario@gmail.com

3. You can also participate by submitting photographic records of sculptures, installations, performances, or land art.

4. Each participant may submit up to a maximum of 3 works (files/images) to be published on our social media platforms (Blogspot, Instagram, and Facebook) as long as the images specifically relate to the theme of the competition.

All content is the property of its authors.

5. Each file must not exceed 3 MB each and may be JPG, PNG, GIF animations, or Instagram-compatible MP4 videos (3 minutes).

6. Images may have been previously published (specify where) and/or preferably recently created.

7. The text and images expressed are the sole responsibility of their authors.

8. The Necessary Graphic Humor Blog, at the end of the Call for Submissions, as usual, will design and publish an e-book containing all the material received online (ISSUU.com).

A printable PDF version may also be sent to the author upon request.

9. The call for submissions is scheduled to close on October 17, 2025.