The IOM mission to Georgia is launching a new one-stop shop website
to help would-be migrants make informed decisions about their plans
to travel abroad in search of employment.

The website ( "http://www.informedmigration.ge" target="_blank" title=
"">www.informedmigration.ge) is part of an EU-funded project
that is jointly carried out by IOM, the International Labour
Organisation (ILO) and the International Centre for Migration
Policy Development (ICMPD).

It aims to provide comprehensive, unbiased and up-to-date
information on all options for safe migration and inform people of
the pitfalls of irregular migration and the dangers of human
trafficking.

As part of this initiative, IOM and local partners will organize
community meeting and pre-departure orientation sessions, in
cooperation with the Migrant Information and Consultation Centres
that IOM recently transferred to the Georgian Ministry of Refugees
and Accommodation as part of an assistance programme to sustain the
functioning of such information centres in Georgia.

While experts generally agree that trafficking in persons is on
the decline in Georgia, migration from the country towards
destinations in Central and Western Europe as well as North America
is still prevalent in Georgia.

Last year, for example, saw an unprecedented number of citizens
of Georgia apply for asylum in European countries.  Recent
engagement of the Georgian government with the European Union has
resulted in the conclusion of the Mobility Partnership, whereas the
visa facilitation agreement between the two sides is expected to
enter into force soon.

There are also signs that Georgia will step up its involvement
in the promotion of circular migration programmes, aiming to expand
legal labour migration opportunities.

Despite these new possible openings, the Georgian population is
still not well aware of the intricacies of rules and regulations of
immigration and labour migration to European destinations.

Easily duped by so-called visa brokers, who claim that finding a
job abroad is simple, migrant workers all too often  expose
themselves to dubious employers and employment mediators in the
countries of destination, resulting in their exploitation.

For more information on this new initiative of IOM in Georgia
you can contact:

Khatuna Didbaridze

IOM Tbilisi Media Focal Point

E-mail: "mailto:kdidbaridze@iom.ge">kdidbaridze@iom.ge