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 - 18.12.2015

To mark this year’s International Migrants Day on December 18 we invite the international community to come together and remember all migrants, including refugees who have tragically lost their lives this year.

Each person has a name, a story and left their homelands seeking better opportunities and safety for themselves and in many cases for their families - aspirations that all of us strive for.

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

On 1- 4 March 2016 INL in cooperation with IOM, organized Women in Policing Regional Conference. This year marked the 5^th anniversary of the conference that had taken place in Tbilisi, Georgia every year since 2012. This year in addition to the traditional participating countries of Moldova, Armenia, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Albania, representatives of Greece, Romania, Poland, FYROM Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Pakistan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines also took part in the event.

IOM border management activities

IOM is currently engaged in implementing the EU-funded project “Reinforcing the capacities of the Government of Georgia in Border and Migration management”. With Integrated Border Management (IBM) the key focus of this project, targeted assistance will include, inter alia, technical support to strengthen intra-service and inter-agency cooperation, support in establishing a comprehensive border-related risk management system and expertise in assisting the development of the GoG’s IBM Strategy and Action Plan for 2014-2020.

IOM capacity building initiatives

IOM has responded to requests from the Government of Georgia in dealing effectively with the challenges posed by identity management. IOM’s Border Management Specialist in Tbilisi has experience from Asia, Africa and the EU in identity management and the supporting documents that lead to the safe issuance of passports, ID cards, residence permits and visas. In Georgia this issue cuts across the Ministries of Interior, Justice and Foreign Affairs as well as the Revenue Service and IOM continues to provide training, equipment and guidance to all these key stakeholders.

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 utilizes potential of migration

IOM Georgia works together with respective IOM Missions to link migration to development and build the institutional capacity of the Georgian Government. IOM Georgia contributes to the development and implementation of national enhancement policies and strategies of Georgia by engaging its overseas communities in improving the capacity of governmental and non-governmental institutions and encouraging temporary return of its qualified nationals.

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

ADAMI Media Prize for Cultural Diversity in Eastern Europe

One of the six press conferences of ADAMI Media Prize for Cultural Diversity in Eastern Europe was held in Tbilisi on 16^th September 2015 at the Europe House. Its objective was to present the idea behind this new initiative and launch of the international media competition awarding outstanding films, TV and online programs promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.

IOM Provides Keesing Document Checker to PSDA

Under the EU-funded More for More project, IOM has procured an online subscription for the Keesing Document Checker for the Georgian Ministry of Justice’s Public Service Development Agency (PSDA). The subscription will be used by the Agency’s officials dealing with the identity documents and will assist in enhancing knowledge of information about passports from around the world.

IOM has Transferred the Full Ownership of the Consular E-Management Service System to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

During a ceremony hosted by the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), IOM and the MFA signed a Deed of Donation about the transfer of ownership of the Consular E-Management Service System. This signature ceremony marks the culmination of five years of close cooperation between IOM and the Georgian authorities in enhancing the latter’s capacities to manage readmission and offer a comprehensive online consular service package to Georgian citizens abroad.

World Day against Trafficking in Persons - 30 July

CRISIS SITUATIONS ARE LABORATORIES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKERS

By Ambassador William Lacy Swing

When disaster strikes, the humanitarian community rushes to respond. We mobilize resources, activate response mechanisms, send doctors, search and rescue teams, logisticians, counsellors, engineers, equipment, tarpaulins, food, medicine and water. All the paraphernalia of an emergency response, swings into action, to conflict zones, natural calamities, or man-made disasters.

IOM's Message for World Day against Trafficking in Persons

IOM Delivers Keesing Document Checker to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs

IOM has procured six online subscriptions for the Keesing Document Checker for the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The subscriptions are for three key border checkpoints including Tbilisi airport, the forensic laboratories in Tbilisi and Batumi and also for the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

IOM Trains 15 Officials from MIA and PSDA on Presentational Skills

With European Union funding under the “More for More” project and at the request of the Ministry of Interior (MIA) and the Public Service Development Agency (PSDA) of the Ministry of Justice, IOM trained 15 officials in Presentational Skills from 7-9 and 21-23 July 2015 respectively.

#MIGRANTHEROES Smartphone Film Competition!!!

The #MigrantHeroes Smartphone FilmCompetition is a new IOM initiative to collect films shot on smartphones that tell migrant stories from around the world. Selected films will compete for the 5th Olleh International Smartphone Film Festival (OISFF)’s special “Migrant Heroes Prize.” IOM is officially sponsoring the OISFF in 2015.

Deadline: 17 August, 13:00

IOM Trains State Prosecutors on Smuggling of Migrants

Under the EU-funded More for More project IOM’s Border Management Specialist Mark Richmond delivered a two day training course from 1 - 2 July 2015 at the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia (POG) in Tbilisi. State Prosecutors from locations across Georgia were present along with representatives of the Border Police, Patrol Police, Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Georgian Revenue Service.

IOM Hosts Migration for Development Workshop in Tbilisi

On 30 June – 1 July 2015, jointly with the Office for the State Minister of Georgia for Diaspora Issues and Public Service Development Agency, IOM organized a Migration for Development workshop in Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel in Tbilisi. IOM engaged participants in discussions on financial literacy and remittance services and on mainstreaming migration into national development plans.

IOM Trains 18 Officers from Georgia's Migration Department

Under the EU-funded More for More project IOM responded to a specific training request from the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. With vast experience of managing centres in the Netherlands Greg Pidakos shared his knowledge in such matters as developing SOPs, conflict avoidance and increasing good communication between those working and staying in the centre.