International Organization for Migration

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The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization. It was initially established in 1951 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) to help resettle people displaced by World War II.

It Is the principal intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. We are growing rapidly and currently count 116 member states. A further 21 states hold observer status, as do numerous international and non-governmental organizations. IOM’s programme budget for 2005 exceeds US$1.1 billion, funding over 1,400 active programmes and more than 5,000 staff members serving in over 280 field offices in more than a hundred countries. 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, be they refugees, displaced persons or other uprooted people. The IOM Constitution gives explicit recognition to the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement of persons.

IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management: migration and development, facilitating migration, regulating migration, and addressing forced migration. Cross-cutting activities include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants’ rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration.

IOM works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.