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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION - IOM
IOM is the leading agency devoted to fostering humane and orderly migration for the benefit of migrants and society.
Mission
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As the leading international organization for migration, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to:
- Assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management
- Advance understanding of migration issues
- Encourage social and economic development through migration, and
- Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.
Membership
112 States are currently members.
Background
IOM was established in 1951 to resettle European displaced persons.
Funding
Funded by Members’ contributions. Operational budget USD 1 billion (est) in 2005.
Structure
IOM’s structure is highly decentralised and service-oriented. There are 16 Missions with Regional functions (MRFs) serving as resource centres and 7 Special Liaison Missions (SLMs). IOM has over 260 field locations.
While not part of the UN System, IOM maintains close working relations with UN bodies and operational agencies. IOM has as partners a wide range of international and non-governmental organizations.
Fields of activity
IOM helps governments and civil society through:
- rapid humanitarian responses to sudden migration flows
- post-emergency return and reintegration programmes
- assistance to migrants on their way to new homes and lives
- facilitation of labour migration
- assisted voluntary return for irregular migrants
- recruitment of highly qualified nationals for return to their countries of origin
- aid to migrants in distress
- training & capacity building of officials
- measures to counter trafficking in persons
- migration medical and public health programmes
- mass information and education on migration
- research related to migration management and other services for migrants.
Headquarters
Geneva
Relationship with IH&RA
Contact has been established in recent years and IOM has been invited to speak on migration issues at key IH&RA events. IOM has been approached by IH&RA to participate in the International Worker Mobility Programme currently under discussion with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other public and private-sector partners. Most recently, the President of IH&RA has been invited to join the high level Business Advisory Board.
Key contacts
Mr Brunson McKinley ,
Director-General
Mr Robert Paiva ,
Director, International Relations
Mr. Nilim Baruah
Head, Labour Migration
Address
17, Route des Morillons
CH-1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland
Tel : + 41 22 717 9111
Fax : + 41 22 798 6150
E-mail: nfo@iom.int
Web site: www.iom.int |
