Activities of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 1998-2002

Recommendation 1607 (2003)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 24 June 2003 (19th Sitting) (see Doc. 9814, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography, rapporteur: Mr Wilkinson). Text adopted by the Assembly on 24 June 2003 (19th Sitting).

Thesaurus

1. In the current context of globalisation, growing economic disparity and political unrest, governments face new challenges in trying to devise viable and effective migration policies. The Parliamentary Assembly therefore recognises the importance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as an agency assisting states in the implementation of an orderly system of migration management, respectful of the human rights and dignity of migrants.

2. The Assembly recalls its previous recommendations on the activities of the IOM, and in particular Recommendation 1253 (1994) on the activities of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 1992 and 1993 and Recommendation 1370 (1998) on the activities of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 1994-97. The Assembly also notes the recent exchange of views between its Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography and IOM representatives (Geneva, 27 February 2003).

3. Since Recommendation 1370, the international context has profoundly changed, with a virulent increase of phenomena such as irregular migration, the smuggling and trafficking of migrants and terrorism posing an indirect threat to the concept of a multicultural society and to the full integration of immigrants in their host country. The IOM has reacted to these changes with considerable restructuring, in order to respond better to the new needs of states and migrants.

4. The Assembly congratulates the IOM on its flexibility and its efforts to adapt to the changing needs of migration policies, and on the increase in its membership, now counting 101 states, of which 34 are Council of Europe member states.

5. Consistent with its previous recommendations, and considering their common interest in migration policies and the rights of migrants, the Assembly believes that the Council of Europe and the IOM should continue to work in close co-operation in this field.

6. The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers strengthen co-operation between the Council of Europe and the IOM, in particular in the following areas:

6.1 the elaboration of a viable strategy of migration management;

6.2 the development and delivery of information addressed to potential migrants on the channels for legal migration;

6.3 the production and distribution of information addressed to potential victims of trafficking;

6.4 the fight against trafficking and the provision of assistance and protection to its victims;

6.5 the full integration of legal immigrants in their host countries;

6.6 the study of the connection between migration and development, and the effort to address the root causes of migration movements;

6.7 the improvement of the legal framework applying to migrants relating to entry stipulations and the full assurance of their rights.

7. Furthermore, the Assembly reiterates its recommendations to the Committee of Ministers:

7.1 to instruct the Council of Europe Development Bank to study the possibility of co-funding joint projects with the IOM;

7.2 to invite all Council of Europe member states to become members of the IOM;

7.3 to urge all Council of Europe member states to provide political and financial support to the IOM in the fulfilment of its tasks.