IOM, the Internation Organisation for Migration is 60
IOM, the world’s leading international migration agency ihas turned 60!. Since its fundation in 1951 it has helped over 13 million migrants, in the belief that migration – if dignified, orderly and voluntary – is of benefit to the individuals concerned and society as a whole.
With 132 member states, a further 17 states holding observer status and 420 field locations worldwide, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
The organisation's Constitution recognizes the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement.
IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management:
- Migration and development
- Facilitating migration
- Regulating migration
- Forced migration
IOM activities that cut across these areas include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants' rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration.
IOM - A brief history
The organisation was born in 1951 to help with the great number of displaced men, women and children following the Second World War. IOM was foundamental in identifying resettlement countries for the 11 million people made homeless by the war; it also arranged transport for nearly 1 million migrants through the 1950s.
IOM has also offered its invaluable help to the victim of many significant man-made disasters: Hungary 1956, Czechoslovakia 1968, Chile 1973, the Gulf War 1990, Kosovo and Timor 1999. And has helped the victims displaced by natural disasters: the Asian Tsunami in 2004, the earthquake of Pakistani in 2005, and, more recently, the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.
From being an operational logistics agency, on its 60th birthday IOM is the leading international agency promoting a better understanding of migration issues.
With an annual operating budget of nearly $1 billion, 6,000 staff working in over 100 countries worldwide, IOM can be credited for upholding the human dignity and well-being of migrants, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
We would like to wish IOM a very happy birthday indeed and ... many happy returns!
