Reply to the 22nd report on the activities of the Intergovernmental Committee on Migration (ICM)

Resolution 770 (1982)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

See Doc. 4820, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography. Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 12 March 1982.

Thesaurus

The Assembly,

1. Having examined the 22nd progress report of the Intergovernmental Committee for Migration, covering the period from 1 January 1979 to 30 December 1980 (Doc. 4759) and the report in reply to it by its Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography (Doc. 4820) ;

2. Considering that world developments in the political, economic, social and demographic fields have considerably influenced international movements of both migrants and refugees, and that ICM activities have been directly affected by these developments ;

3. Noting with satisfaction that during this time ICM greatly expanded its role, deepening and developing its essential contribution to the assistance and transport of migrants and refugees, as well as providing co-operation to governments, particularly those of developing countries, in the field of migration and related transfer of technology through human resources ;

4. Noting that in the period under examination a record number of persons were assisted in their migration and resettlement, and that, whilst in 1978 the total number of persons moved by the organisation was 91 299, this figure reached the staggering dimension of 244 129 persons in 1979 and 290 000 in 1980 (the majority of whom were refugees) ;

5. Noting that the movement of refugees from Europe increased from 35 647 persons resettled in 1978 to 66 309 persons in 1979 and to 56 815 in 1980, the majority being Jews emigrating from the USSR and asylum seekers from various countries in Eastern Europe ;

6. Regretting that this period was also characterised by certain difficulties experienced by the traditional host countries in maintaining their rates of reception under regular immigration programmes, due to the general economic situation, in particular the high rates of inflation and unemployment, and the very low rates of economic growth ;

7. Noting that in recent years there has been a noticeable shift in receiving countries' manpower needs, with the result that the proportion of higher level specialised personnel among selective migrants is steadily increasing ;

8. Noting with satisfaction that, in the period under consideration, ICM intensified its cooperation with other international and national organisations concerned with migration and refugee assistance, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies, and that privileged links were maintained with the Council of Europe, the European Communities, OECD and the Organisation of American States (OAS), as well as with some specialised agencies of the United Nations system, particularly ILO (International Labour Office) and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) ;

9. Considering that, in the last four years, there has been a modification of the organisation's field of action which has become more and more involved in activities and programmes outside Europe, and that this phenomenon has led to a change of the organisation's name from "Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration" (ICEM) to "Intergovernmental Committee for Migration" (ICM) ;

10. Expressing its satisfaction at the expansion or the introduction within ICM activities of certain (special and/or regular) programmes with new operational characteristics, such as, among others, the provision of qualified personnel and the return of expatriated professionals and technicians from industrialised countries to the developing countries, the emergency airlift of Cuban refugees followed by the processing and movement of refugees within the USA, and the resettlement assistance given to persons leaving certain Latin-American countries under special programmes ;

11. Expressing its particular appreciation for the ICM special programme to provide the skilled manpower needed for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and further development to the Nicaraguan economy, which was established in response to an appeal from the government of Nicaragua, and recalling that, further to a communication by the ICM's Director, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution urging European governments to support this programme ;

12. Welcoming the emphasis given within ICM activities to the organisation of language training which constitutes an essential instrument for the integration of refugees and migrants into the new society ;

13. Welcoming also ICM's successful efforts to promote the exchange of information and know-how in the field of migration, through the organisation of periodical seminars on adaptation and integration of permanent immigrants and on the transfer of technology through human resources, as well as by undertaking indispensable research and providing upon request technical advice in its sphere of competence,

14. Urges ICM, with the assistance of the governments of Council of Europe member states, to continue carrying out its regular programmes, deepening and developing its essential contribution to the assistance and transport of migrants and refugees, as well as its other special activities and programmes of co-operation with governments of sending and receiving countries, and with international governmental and non-governmental organisations ;

15. Expresses its high appreciation for the work carried out in the last two years by ICM which is confronted, as all the organisations involved in migration and humanitarian activities, by a dramatic increase in the number of people in need of assistance ;

16. Invites ICM to pursue its policy of co-operation with the developing countries within its membership in the field of transfer of technology through human resources, as well as with those non-member developing countries needing and requesting its assistance ;

17. Calls upon the governments of European member states of ICM to continue affording ICM strong political and financial support, and upon the governments members of the Council of Europe which are not members of ICM but are observers or willing to support ICM's activities, to consider joining ICM ;

18. Asks its own members to support and further, through national parliaments and through approaches to their governments, the essential role of the Intergovernmental Committee for Migration.