International Organization for Migration

International Women's Day - 8 March

Proactively including gender equality in all of IOM’s work means: advocating for equal rights under the law in employment and mobility; combatting discriminatory migration practices; understanding how gender influences all aspects and types of migration; knowing and responding to how gender shapes access to social services, economic growth, capacities, risks and vulnerabilities; and understanding how migration influences gender roles and gender equality.

International Migrants Day - 18 December

On December 18th 1990, the UN General Assembly adopted the international convention on the protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families. Every year, on 18 December International Migrants Day is observed throughout many countries, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations through the spread of information on human rights and fundamental political freedoms of migrants, and through sharing of experiences and the design of actions to ensure the protection of migrants.

World Day against Trafficking in Persons - 30 July

"Out of millions of men, women and children trafficked each year, only approximately 45,000 victims are identified. IOM assists one in seven of those cases, helping victims return to normal lives often after years of appalling abuse and cruelty."

Ambassador William Lacy Swing, the Director General of the International Organization for Migration

Tbilisi Annual Women in Policing Regional Conference Organized by IOM

Every year since 2012 IOM in Georgia is marking the International Women’s Day by hosting the Annual Regional Women in Policing Conference. This year the Coonference will take place from March 6-9 2018 in the capital Tbilisi.

IOM Border Management Activities

IOM is currently engaged in implementing the EU-funded project “Sustaining Border Management and Migration Governance in Georgia" (SBMMG). This action aims to enhance the capacities of Georgian authorities in the area of integrated border management and migration governance in line with relevant EU-Georgia cooperation frameworks and government action plans.

Migration Health

Migration and Health is an emerging issue for the South Caucasus. Jointly with National Centre for Disease Control IOM implemented Migrant Health Survey project to study the prevalence of non-communicable diseases’ biological and behavioural risk factors among IDPs, returned migrants, foreign migrant students and detainees, asylum-seekers and trafficked persons. Data obtained through the Survey will provide the basis for mainstreaming adequate programmatic response to ensure that psychosocial needs of diverse migrant populations are addressed and primary health care services are strengthened. The Migrant Health Survey project was funded by the IOM Development Fund.

IOM Georgia Assists in Refugee Resettlement

International Organization for Migration provides extensive support to the Government of the United States in carrying out its US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). IOM Tbilisi has been involved in the United States Refugee Admission Programme (USRAP) since January 2001 and acts as a local point of contact for migrants.

IOM Georgia Provides Targeted Services for Migrants and Beneficiaries

IOM Georgia provides a comprehensive range of services for different groups of migrants focusing on voluntary return and reintegration, support to mine victims, support to victims of trafficking, support to foreign migrants through job counseling, assistance in finding employment, vocational education, offering soft loan scheme for small business development, return to countries of origin, humanitarian support.

IOM Georgia Assists Victims of Trafficking and Stranded Migrants

IOM is active in supporting the Government of Georgia to further upgrade its counter-trafficking policy. IOM Georgia regularly provides expert advice to the government and contributes to the update of the national counter-trafficking action plan and capacity building of law enforcement structures. In close cooperation with its governmental and non-governmental counterparts, IOM Georgia offers victims of trafficking and other vulnerable migrants a comprehensive assistance package, including safe return to their home countries as well as pre- and post-return protection.

News

IOM Completes Additional Document Security and Fraud Training Course in Kutaisi

1-3 November 2016

At the request of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs and under the EU-funded More for More project, IOM provided training from 1-3 November 2016 for 18 recently assigned Patrol Police officers from David the Builder International Airport in Kutaisi. The training course followed on from training conducted two months previously in Kutaisi and was arranged in response to the recent launch of seven new Wizz Air flights to EU destinations from the airport. With significantly higher volumes of passengers and with very affordable flight ticket prices, the potential for increased travel document fraud is significant.

IOM Organizes Training of Trainers in Criminal Intelligence and Investigation

Under the EU-funded More for More project, the IOM organised a Training of Trainers course on Criminal Intelligence and Investigation for a range of different officials at the Academy of the Ministry of Interior. The training course was delivered by British expert Geoff Amir, took place from 24-28 October 2016 and included representatives from the Central Criminal Police Department, the Information Analytical Department as well as trainers from the Academy of the Ministry of Interior.

IOM Trains Revenue Service Officers on International Transport and Delivery of Goods

Under the EU-funded More for More project IOM arranged for Sandra Esser and Matthias Golba from the German Federal Customs Office in Cologne to conduct training on International Transport and the Delivery of Goods from 18-20 October 2016.

IOM and Georgian High School of Justice Conduct Training in Confronting Smuggling of Migrants

Under the EU-funded More for More project Davit Mamiseishvili, Head of Batumi City Court joined IOM’s Border Management Specialist Mark Richmond to deliver a two day training course from 1-2 October at Batumi Hight School of Justice. Judges from across Georgia, including Adjara, Poti and Tbilisi, were present. Mr. Mamiseishvili described the Georgian legal framework and provided examples of cases of illegal border crossings and smuggling of migrants following the significant increase in cases in late 2015. He pointed out the links between organized smuggling of migrants and the links with other types of organized crime in Turkey and Adjara.

IOM Trains 18 Officers from Georgia's Migration Department

21 - 23 September 2016

Under the EU-funded More for More project IOM responded to some specific training requests from the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Making his second visit to assist the Migration Department and with immense experience of managing accommodation centres in the Netherlands, Greg Pidakos shared his knowledge in both a frank and helpful manner.

IOM Completes Document Security and Fraud Training Courses in Kutaisi

5-9 September 2016

Under the EU-funded More for More project, IOM joined with Border Management Specialist at the Embassy of Latvia in Tbilisi to provide training for 40 Patrol Police officers in Kutaisi. In the autumn of 2016 Wizz Air will launch seven new flights to EU destinations from Kutaisi International Airport. With such an expanded range of services the scope for increased travel document fraud is all too apparent.

IOM Facilitates Training on New Document Examination Equipment at Tbilisi International Airport

31 August 2016

Under the EU-funded project “Reinforcing the Capacities of the Government of Georgia in Border and Migration Management” IOM is in the process of procuring 10 pieces of equipment for the detailed examination of identity documents at key Georgian border checkpoints.

IOM Georgia Celebtrates World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 30 July 2016

On 28 July 2016 IOM joined State Fund for Protection and Assistance of (statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking.

See the event in pictures

Body Language Training Course for Georgian Revenue Service Officers

4 - 8 July 2016

Under the EU-funded More for More project IOM arranged for Italian experts Giuseppe Corbo, Basilio Pelosi and Marco Paladino to train 20 Georgian Revenue Service officers in Body Language. The training course had previously been delivered to a different selection of officers and was designed to highlight the subtleties of assessing the body language of persons moving through border checkpoints.

Civil Registration and Identity Document Training by Dutch Experts in Tbilisi

Under the EU funded More for More project IOM continued its support to the Georgian Public Service Development Agency in the field of document examination including civil registration documents. From 20 - 24 June two experts from the Dutch government led the training in Tbilisi for 27 officials of the Public Service Development Agency along with Public Service Hall officials from Tbilisi, Rustavi, Gori and Zugdidi and PSDA Community Centre officials from Sartichala and Sadakhlo.