IOM Director General Brunson McKinley this week carried out a
three-day official visit to Ecuador where he participated in the
Ibero-American Forum on Migration and Development and held meetings
with Ecuadorian authorities.

The Director General and the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister signed
an "Agreement for the Modernization of the Ecuadorian Passport",
which extends the programme that began in October 2002 until 2010
in order to expand Ecuadorian consular services around the
world.

The agreement includes the creation of Virtual Consulates, Call
Centres, Mobile Consulates, a Consular Protection System, the
incorporation of the electronic passport and visa systems into the
consular network at a global level, and the strengthening of
consulates for out-of-country voting processes.

It is estimated that there are approximately two million
Ecuadorians living abroad. 

In his opening speech at the Ibero-American Forum on Migration
and Development, ending today in Cuenca, Mr. McKinley emphasized
the importance of protecting the human rights of migrants.

He also signed an agreement with the Ibero-American General
Secretariat (SEGIB), the Economic Commission for Latin America and
the Caribbean (ECLAC).  The main objective of the agreement is
to strengthen cooperation amongst the three organizations in order
to help in the implementation and follow up of the Montevideo
Commitment on Migration and Development and the Plan of Action of
the Ibero-American Forum on Migration and Development.

The participation of Spain and Portugal was significant as they
are amongst the main countries of destination for Latin American
migrants.  Cooperation between countries of origin, transit
and destination constitutes an essential requirement to improve
migration policy formulation.

The Forum was attended by government representatives,
civil-society and international organizations working on migration
issues, as well as academics and other interested parties.

For further information please contact:

Ana María Guzmán

IOM Quito

Tel. +593 2-22-53-948/49

E-mail: "mailto:mguzman@oim.org.ec">mguzman@oim.org.ec