The International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Humane and Orderly Migration to Benefit Migrants and Society

IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.

No country in the world remains unaffected by international migration flows. Every country is one of origin, transit, destination, or all of these simultaneously.

At the start of the 21^st Century, one of every 35 persons is a migrant – this number is even higher in industrialized countries, where one of every ten persons has left their home country. The security and stability of our international system depends in large part on how nations and organizations alike can work together to ensure the humane and effective management of migration issues.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. IOM has become the leading international organization working with migrants and governments alike to address migration challenges, while also recognizing the enormous potential benefits of migration for countries of destination, for migrants themselves, and for their countries of origin. 

Established in 1951 in Brussels as an intergovernmental organization to resettle European displaced persons, refugees and migrants, IOM has since grown to encompass a variety of migration management activities throughout the world. With offices and operations on every continent, IOM helps governments and civil society through providing responses to migration issues, including:

• Rapid humanitarian responses to sudden migration flows
• Post-emergency return and reintegration programmes
• Assistance to migrants on their way to new homes and lives
• Facilitation of labour migration
• Aid to migrants in distress
• Measures to combat trafficking of children, women, and other at risk groups
• Measures to respond to medical and public health issues in relation to migration
• Education and information migration issues
• Research in the field of migration and its effective management