International Organization for Migration (IOM)
IOM as the international migration agency brings to CCEMA the human mobility perspective and over 55 years of migration management experience. Established in 1951, IOM is the principal intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. With 125 member states, a further 18 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
The IOM Constitution gives explicit recognition to the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement. IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management: migration and development, facilitating migration, regulating migration and addressing forced migration. IOM activities that cut across these areas include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants’ rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration.
Migration has implications for and is influenced by a variety of policy matters, one of which is the environment. In the crosscutting area of migration and the environment, IOM addresses linkages between the environment and climate change on the one hand, and human settlement and population movement on the other from a human mobility perspective. IOM provides advice on policies and practices appropriate to address the challenges facing mobile populations today, including those resulting from extreme environmental events or gradual environmental degradation, and implements relevant projects. Through its programmatic activity, IOM is also applying migration management tools to prevent and mitigate the negative effects of the movement of people on the environment, including in cases of mass migration. IOM is committed to close cooperation with relevant international and non-governmental organizations, governments and other relevant stakeholders to develop more comprehensive strategies to better manage environmental migration and to address potential impacts of migration on the environment.
Find out more information on IOM’s work in the area of climate change, environment and migration.