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

Temporary Labour Migration of Georgian Workers to Poland and Estonia Pilot Project Inaugurates

On 9 December 2015, IOM Georgia officially launched the project “Temporary Labour Migration of Georgian Workers to Poland and Estonia” funded by IOM Development Fund and held its first Steering Committee meeting in Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel in Tbilisi. All the activities planned within the project aim at developing the capacities of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs and its Social Service Agency, Public Service Development Agency, Ministry of Justice in coordination with the State Commission for Migration Issues of Georgia in managing temporary labour migration processes independently.The project sets precedent for state’s involvement in the temporary labour migration management process in Georgia in an informed and prepared manner.

Travel Document Examination Training for Revenue Service

Under the EU-funded More for More project IOM provided document examination training for 18 officers from the Revenue Service at Sarpi border checkpoint in Adjara. Revenue Service has the responsibility for operating the frontline immigration control for heavy good vehicles and medium sized commercial vehicles and there it is imperative that its officers have a high level of travel document examination knowledge.

IOM Georgia Marks International Migrants Day on 18 December 2015

On 18 December 2015 IOM Georgia joined the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia, in celebration of the International Migrants Day by organizing an exhibition of paintings and drawings by returnees that are beneficiaries of the state and IOM-implemented reintegration assistance programmes.

მიგრანტთა საერთაშორისო დღე საქართველოში

IOM-მა მიგრანტთა საერთაშორისო დღეს მონაწილეობა მიიღო საქართველოს ოკუპირებული ტერიტორიებიდან იძულებით გადაადგილებულ პირთა, განსახლებისა და ლტოლვილთა სამინისტროს მიერ მოწყობილ გამოფენაში, სადაც სამთავრობო და IOM-ის სარეინტეგრაციო პროგრამების მონაწილე დაბრუნებულ მიგრანტთა ნახატები და ფოტოები იყო გამოფენილი.

INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY - 18.12.2015

Let your Light Shine

By William Lacy Swing, Director General, IOM

We have seen some dark days in our world this year. In 2015 we have seen acts of sickening violence, the fury of nature, and – perhaps most poignant of all – the corpse of aSyrian baby boy, AylanKurdi, face-down on a Mediterranean beach.

But while the world is full of darkness, it is not surprising that so many cultures have created festivals of light. Hindus recently celebrated Diwali, and last month was Loy Krathong in Southeast Asia, where candles wereset afloat to give thanks. Soon it will be the holiday season for much of the Western world. Lights are already twinkling almost everywhere, from Central Park to Bondi Beach.

Body Language Training Course for Georgian Revenue Service Officers

30 November - 4 December

Under the EU-funded More for More project IOM arranged for Italian experts Giuseppe Corbo and Basilio Pelosi to train 20 Georgian Revenue Service officers in Body Language.

Document Examination Training for Forensic Laboratory and Patrol Police Officers

Under the EU-funded More for More project IOM provided document examination training on the Foster & Freeman VSC 40 machine procured by ICMPD. The training took place in Batumi on 30 November and 1 December and was attended by Forensic Laboratory document examiners from both Adjara and Tbilisi and Patrol Police officers from Adjara.

Georgian Officials Complete Document Examination Advanced Level Training Course in the Netherlands

9 - 14 November 2015

Under the EU-funded project “Reinforcing the Capacities of the Government of Georgia in Border and Migration Management” IOM organized a study visit in the Netherlands for nine representatives from Georgian authorities on the topic of document examination and identity fraud. Representatives from Patrol Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA), as well as a representative of the Public Service Development Agency (PSDA) of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, successfully completed Advance Level Document Examination Training Course offered by Dutch experts from Identity Fraud and Documents Centre of Expertise (ECID) of Royal Constabulary in Schiphol, the Netherlands.

Study Visit of Georgian Officials to Estonia on Border Management Risk Analysis Methods

As a follow-up to the risk analysis Assessment Report produced for the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) by an EU expert from Poland, IOM organized a study visit for MIA officials from 25 to 29 October 2015 to gain exposure to border management risk analysis methods in another EU Member State, Estonia.

IOM Delivers Training on Smuggling of Migrants for State Prosecutors in Batumi

Under the EU-funded More for More project IOM delivered training on Smuggling of Migrants for State Prosecutors in Batumi from 28-30 October 2015. Prosecutors from across the west of Georgia were present as well as representatives from the Georgian Border Police and the Revenue Service in Adjara. The training course covered the international legal framework as well as that relevant laws in Georgia.

IOM Hosted Regional Economic Forum Under Global Diaspora Week

Jointly with the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Diaspora Issues, IOM celebrated Global Diaspora Week (13 - 16 October 2015) in Georgia. Various events, exhibitions, Information Day on Diaspora Engagement for Development, charity concerts, conferences, were organized in the framework of the Global Diaspora Week with participation of special invited guests.