An international conference on migration and demographic security
bringing together government representatives from the Commonwealth
of Independent States (CIS), central, western and southeastern
Europe as well as international organizations, is taking place in
the Belarus capital, Minsk, on 14-15 November.

Organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and IOM in
cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and supported by the Swedish
International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the conference
will focus on migration management and migration policy in the CIS
in the context of demographic security, as well as the effect of
irregular migration on demographics.

Migration flows within the CIS region have changed and
intensified since the fall of the ex-Soviet regime with member
countries also witnessing ageing populations, falling birth rates
and rising death rates among native populations. Although
governments are devising policies to counter such trends, it will
not be enough on its own to offset negative demographic
forecasts.

Countries such as Russia have been particularly hit by such
demographic trends while at the same time being a major destination
country for regular and irregular migrants in the region. Like many
industrialized countries, CIS countries are now looking at best
migration practices to offset their demographic trends.

Participants at the conference will examine legislation and
policies among source and destination countries as well as develop
coordinated solutions to addressing critical migration issues in
their countries.

For further information please contact:

Tatyana Bugaeva

IOM Minsk

Tel.: +375 17 288 27 42

E-mail: "mailto:tbugaeva@iom.org.by">tbugaeva@iom.org.by