IOM - the International Organization for Migration
Final farewell. A final farewell as a refugee leaves Mae La camp on the Thailand-Myanmar border. © IOM UN Migration Agency, 2012
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the UN Migration Agency. IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.
History and mandate
IOM was established in 1951 to assist persons displaced in Europe after the Second World War. On 19 September 2016, IOM became a related agency to the United Nations and hence part of the UN system.
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
- Promote international cooperation on migration issues
- Assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems
- Provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need.
The IOM Constitution recognizes the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement.
Internationally, IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management:
- Migration and development
- Facilitating migration
- Regulating migration
- Forced migration.
IOM in Denmark
Denmark joined IOM as a member state in 1954. IOM Copenhagen was opened as a Country Office in Denmark in 2009. Since 2013, the office is located at UN City Copenhagen. IOM Copenhagen is a relatively small country office with some 5-10 staff.
IOM Copenhagen assists other IOM missions with liaison towards Danish donors, and develops and implements migration projects in Denmark in cooperation with Danish partners. IOM Copenhagen amongst others works with:
- Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR)
- Counter-Trafficking (CT)
- Integration