Migration experts from international organizations and academia, as
well as government officials from MERCOSUR countries and other
national and regional entities are coming together this week in the
Argentine city of Iguazú for the International Migration in
the 21st Century Conference.

Under the auspices of the Argentine Ministry of Interior
Immigration Directorate, participants will exchange information and
best practices on issues of common concern related to international
migration.

"With human mobility and integration at the top of the migration
agenda for receiving countries, it is vital for IOM to foster these
regional gatherings where policy makers can discuss mutual
concerns," says Juan Artola, IOM Regional Representative in Buenos
Aires.

What were migrant countries of origin just a few decades ago
today are destination countries, as in the case of Argentina.
However the countries receiving migrants today are also seeing
their nationals migrate in search of better economic
opportunities.  Countries that built and developed their
economies using foreign labour are now closing the doors to foreign
workers.

"Although today's world is very much interdependent, governments
and policy makers are realizing that regionalization can be a
viable option when faced with globalization.  And
paradoxically, the right to migrate is being discussed more and
more these days," adds Artola.

Prompting discussion amongst governments can guide policy makers
towards sound migration policies that would decrease the largely
illicit and irregular migration with all the risks that it
entails.

The two-day event includes four roundtables where participants
will discuss migration issues affecting their societies, including:
reaping the development potential of migration, migration as a
fundamental human right, involving the diaspora in the development
of their country of origin, brain drain and brain gain, regional
integration of migrants, climate change and migration, and regional
consultative processes.

Some of the participants include: Lorena Escudero, Minister of
SENAMI (National Migrant Secretariat) of Ecuador; Costa Rica's Vice
Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora; Alvaro Calderon,
Director of Colombia nos Une (a virtual platform created
by IOM and Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reach out to
the Colombian diaspora); Izaura Miranda, Director of Immigration of
the Brazilian Ministry of Justice; and Martín Arias Duval,
National Director of Migration of Argentina.

For more information, please contact:

Mariana Bocca

IOM Buenos Aires

Tel: +54 11 5219 2033/34/35

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