Landmarks in the international organizations environment: IOM

International Organization for Migration

Monique Eid, WHO

IOM IOM began its work in 1952 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) in a prefabricated annex of the Palais Wilson in the Pâquis. In 1963 when the Cantonal authorities were obliged to empty the property to make way for construction envisaged in the area, ICEM moved to a leased office building on the rue du Valais. But since the move from the Palais Wilson annex, ICEM made constant efforts to obtain, through the Fondation des Immeubles pour les Organisations Internationales (FIPOI), new premises for the growing organization. In 1975, still without a home of its own, ICEM moved to the United Nations Annex 16 on avenue Jean Trembley in Petit-Saconnex. Finally, on 21 May 1984 the Organization, at that time called ICM, moved into its new and present home on 17 route des Morillons.

50 Years at the Service of Migrants and Governments

In December 2001, IOM celebrated its 50th anniversary. With half a century of world-wide migration experience and practical know-how, IOM is recognized as the leading international, intergovernmental and humanitarian organization concerned with all aspects of migration. While not formally part of the United Nations system, IOM maintains close working relations with UN bodies and operational agencies. The Organization acts with its partners to encourage social and economic development through migration, to meet the operational challenges of migration, to advance the understanding of migration issues and to uphold the dignity and well-being of migrants.

Committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society, IOM responds to the operational calls of migration in arranging the movement of migrants, refugees and displaced persons to new homes and providing comprehensive migration assistance to governments and its other partners in the international community and in civil society.

Established initially as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration to help solve the post-war problems of migrants, refugees and displaced persons in Europe and to assist in their orderly trans-Atlantic migration, IOM’s focus has step-by-step expanded to include a wide variety of migration management activities. It adopted its current name in 1989 to reflect its progressively global outreach in terms of geographical coverage as well as programme activities.

Since its creation, the Organization has assisted over 13 million refugees and migrants to return home or settle in over 125 countries. The growing international concern with migration issues is reflected in IOM’s progressively increasing member- and observership, numbering today 91 member states and 37 observer states. With offices and operations on every continent, IOM helps migrants, governments and civil society through operations and programmes revolving around:

rapid humanitarian responses to sudden migration flows
post-emergency return and reintegration
demobilization and peace-building
assistance to migrants on their way to new homes and lives
development and management of labour migration
assisted voluntary return for irregular migrants
recruitment of highly qualified nationals for return to their countries of origin
training and capacity-building for governments, NGOs and others
measures to counter trafficking in persons
medical and public health programmes for migrants
mass information and education on migration
the effective integration of migrants in destination countries and
for enhancement of origin country development
research related to migration, its causes, consequences and management options

Centuries of international migration have played a crucial role in shaping the world we know today. Globalization has made migration even more complex as a growing number of people are migrating in search of better living conditions, employment, education, freedom, safety from persecution or violence.

At present, there are more migrants in the world than ever before. An estimated 150 million people live outside their countries of birth or citizenship, while many others are not counted as international migrants because they live and work in another country illegally, whether on a permanent or temporary basis.

Properly managed, migration can contribute to prosperity, development and mutual understanding among people. IOM will continue to help international migrants, refugees and displaced persons with all their needs and to assist governments in managing migration and developing policies and migration practices for the benefit for all.