Migration Law: Research and Publications

The International Migration Law (IML) Unit conducts research on migration law and current migration issues to analyze and evaluate the various facets and interplay of international, regional and national migration law. The Unit seeks for better governance of migration through research activities that improve awareness and knowledge of migration law.

Areas of research and particular expertise include:

• The international protection of migrant rights;
• Rights of particular categories of migrants: women, children, migrant workers, etc.;
• Migration in crisis situations;
• Environmentally induced migration and the protection of migrants’ rights;
• Migrants and right to liberty: non-custodial measures as an alternative to detention;
• Border management and human rights;
• Access to justice for migrants;
• Protection of family unity and right to reunification;
• Migrants’ access to economic and social rights.
• Rights-based approach to migration policy;
• Extraterritoriality and the international protection regime and asylum procedures.

IML Publications (available in English, French and Spanish) can be accessed on IOM´s Publications Platform.

IOM Migration Glossary

• IOM Glossary on Migration (EN, ES, FR)

The IML Series:

• Migration Law Series

Information notes

• IML Information Note on Consular Assistance
• IML Information Note on Access to Justice: A Migrant's Right
• IML Information Note on the Principle of Non-refoulement
• IML Information Note on International Standards on Alternatives to Detention (ATDs) and Immigration Detention
• IML Information Note on the Protection of Migrant Children
• IML Information Note on International Standards on the Protection of People with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in the Context of Migration

 Alternatives to immigration detention (ATDs) Series

• IOM Quick Guide on Alternatives to Detention (ATD)
• IOM Road Map on Alternatives to Migration Detention: Tools Series N°1
• Advocating for Alternatives to Migration Detention: Tools Series N°2

Rights-based approach to programming (RBA)

• Handbook on Rights-based approach to programming

Other Publications

• Environment and Climate change
  • Legal Aspects of Protecting Migrants’ Rights in the Context of Disasters, Climate Change and Environmental Degradation, IOM, Geneva, 2024.
• Diaspora Engagement
  • Diaspora and Transnational identities - An Analysis of Legal Frameworks and Policies, IOM, Geneva, 2023.
• Access to justice
  • Migrants Access to Justice: International Standards and How the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration Helps Paving the Way, IOM, 2022.
  • "El Pacto Mundial para la Migración Segura, Ordenada y Regular: un camino para garantizar el derecho al acceso a la justicia de las personas migrantes", article on page 78 of Acceso a la justicia de las personas migrantes, refugiadas y otras sujetas de protección internacional en las Américas, El Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja (CICR), el Comité de Protección de los Derechos de Todos los Trabajadores Migratorios y de sus Familiares (CMW por sus siglas en inglés), Sin Fronteras IAP, 2022. (available in Spanish only).
• Internally Displaced Persons
  • Bridging the Divide in Approaches to Conflict and Disaster Displacement: Norms, Institutions and Coordination in Afghanistan, Colombia, the Niger, the Philippines and Somalia , UNHCR and IOM, 2021. (ES, FR)