IOM

International Organization for Migration

Item ID
{C9087B68-2F65-4C68-A6EB-F94C2C28298E}
UNAgency ID
{CDCC901E-F204-438B-9121-59421DCC2AEA}
Background

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. While not part of the United Nations system, IOM maintains close working relations with United Nations bodies and operational agencies, as well as with a wide range of international and non-governmental organizations. In addition, IOM is the designated cluster leader for camp management in humanitarian settings for natural disasters. Through its gender equality policy adopted in 2015, IOM is committed to ensuring that a gender perspective is mainstreamed throughout all IOM policies, activities and programming.

Resources

Exploratory Assessment on Trafficking in Persons in the Caribbean: The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, the Netherlands Antilles, St. Lucia, Suriname (June 2005); Trinidad and Tobago (December 2006)

Who is the next victim? Vulnerability of young Romanian women to trafficking in human beings. IOM, 2004

URL

http://www.iom.int/

Mail Address

17, Route des Morillons. CH-1211 Geneva 19. Switzerland

Areas of Work

IOM’s main focus, with respect to violence against women, is on counter-trafficking, violence against women migrants, including women migrant workers and reduction of HIV vulnerabilities. It also addresses traditional practices such as female genital mutilation. The Organization is particularly attentive to violence against women in the context of complex emergencies and natural disasters, where women and children are disproportionately targets of abuse.

In this regard, it undertakes prevention activities; provides assistance to those affected by violence and/or trafficking; and provides assistance to trafficked victims for their voluntary return to countries of origin and their reintegration. IOM also facilitates access to voluntary counselling and testing of HIV and referral for treatment where needed for rape victims and for migrants to ensure universal access to HIV prevention, AIDS treatment, care and support.

Agency Type
OTHERS
Title
International Organization for Migration
Icon
IOM

Mar 2014 - Mar 2016 | IOM

In the Central African Republic, IOM is working to prevent SGBV among internally-displaced and host populations. IOM is building capacity among National Police and Gendarmerie forces to respond adequately to SGBV case reports, in coordination with UN Civil Police / CIVPOL. In this effort, IOM is also advocating for the increased recruitment of female police officers. These efforts will provide police with the tools to use a survivor-centred approach, as well as educate them in relation to Central African legislation and international human rights law on rape as a war crime.

Mar 2014 - Mar 2016 | IOM;
UNFPA

In Azerbaijan, IOM is working with Azerbaijan Lawyers Confederation (ALC), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs (SCFWCA) to provide staff members of the Domestic Violence Support Centre with thorough knowledge, skills and competencies to better assist victims.

Mar 2014 - Mar 2016 | IOM

Many of IOM’s overseas pre-departure cultural orientation programmes specifically address domestic violence, female genital mutilation and other such practices that are both harmful to women and against the prevailing rule of law. IOM is working on improving the way this is reflected in curriculum and key priority messages, in training manuals and in supporting activities.

Mar 2014 - Mar 2016 | IOM

As the Global Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster lead agency for natural disasters, and in line with the objectives of the global Call to Action on Protection Against Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies, IOM is working to ensure that proper prevention and mitigation measures are in place to reduce the likelihood of GBV taking place in camps and camp-like settings.  Furthermore, IOM is working on the inclusion of GBV prevention and mitigation at all stages of camp response.

Mar 2014 - Mar 2016 | IOM

In an effort to improve the identification of GBV risks and the response to the needs of GBV survivors, IOM has incorporated protection and GBV risk indicators into CCCM tools, such as the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), in an innovative manner. DTM is a system which regularly captures, processes and disseminates multi-layered primary data and information on the mobility, locations, vulnerabilities and needs of displaced populations, both in country and at the regional and global level.

Jul 2007 - Jan 2008 | IOM

Local stakeholders from government agencies, civil society and service provider organizations are trained with the support of IOM to offer an enhanced assistance for trafficked victims and prosecute traffickers. Since February 2008, IOM has conducted specialized training and capacity building workshops in a number of cities in Pakistan to sensitize a variety of actors on human trafficking, emphasizing the different dimensions of violence against women.

Oct 2009 - Feb 2010 | IOM

IOM published a study on Gender and Labour Migration in Asia which addresses the impact of labour migration on gender roles and the gendered division of labour in the household in six countries, namely Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The study covers different migration scenarios (women “independent” migration, men outmigration and parental couples’s migration) and highlights how violence, whether of a physical, psychological, sexual or economic nature, can mark women’s migratory experience.

Jul 2007 | IOM

IOM conducts and supports research designed to guide and inform migration policy and practice, with a special focus on violence against women, not only in counter-trafficking studies, but also in labour migration and in emergency and post-conflict research.

Jul 2007 | IOM

In the area of counter-trafficking, IOM undertakes research and publishes the findings about the situation of trafficking in specific countries and/or regions. A recent publication gave an assessment of changing patterns and trends of trafficking in persons in the Balkan region. IOM also maintains one of the largest international trafficking database which contains health related information to facilitate planning and programmatic actions.

Jul 2007 - Jan 2008 | IOM

A regional programme supported by IOM is providing assistance for the return and reintegration of trafficked women and girls, mainly exploited as domestic workers, throughout the region. Medical assessments are carried out in the shelters with special attention to HIV cases. Reintegration activities involve school support or income generating activities. IOM signed an agreement with the Colombian Ministry of Justice in order to develop counter-trafficking activities in the areas of assistance to victims and prevention through a hot-line.
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