With a significant proportion of its citizens living abroad and
faced with an ageing population, policy and decision makers in
Uruguay are this week participating in an IOM-sponsored discussion
to analyze and exchange ideas on how international migration is
impacting Uruguay.

The three day event, co-organized by La Universidad de la
República, is part of the IOM "Space for Convergence on
Migration Themes" where the public and private sectors recently
agreed on the need for more information and coordination in order
to draft new and more effective migration policies to benefit the
country and its diaspora.

It is estimated that more than 14 per cent of Uruguay's three
million people has migrated abroad, the highest percentage in Latin
America. According to official surveys, more than 50 per cent of
Uruguayan migrants are less than 29 years of age.

Facing the demographic issues it does, the country needs more
support and tools to better manage migration. The exchange of best
practices between policy and decision makers, academics and IOM
experts will help identify ways to address the impact of migration
on the country.

Other co-hosts include the Office of Budget and Planning, and
the International Migration and Development Network. The seminar is
also receiving support from the United Nations Population Fund; la
Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, México;
FLACSO-Uruguay; the Human Rights Secretariat of the Ministry of
Education and Culture, and the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

For more information, please contact:

Susana Leonardi

IOM Montevideo

Tel: (5982) 916-8043

E-mail: "mailto:iommontevideo@iom.int">iommontevideo@iom.int