Welcome. It’s an honor and privilege to be here with all of you today. This event comes at a pivotal time for our organization –

(1) We are experiencing a time of unprecedented simultaneous, complex and protracted crises and human mobility. (2) We just had a year of extraordinary breakthroughs in the field of migration: Sendai, SDGs and Paris UNFCC agreement. (3) We are now in a year of critical summits and decisions. (WHS; Sept. 19; “Grand Bargain”. The time is now for us to reflect on where we stand and where we need to go in responding to migration crises as one Organization.

We are very fortunate to be joined by a group of distinguished professionals as panelists this morning. They represent some of our closest partners. I look forward to their remarks and our exchanges to increase joint understanding and strengthen joint action towards shared outcomes.

Three points: (Three “T’s”)

• A time of Transformation: an increasingly complex context that requires a renewed institutional commitment
• A time of Transition: The challenge of bridging humanitarian and development objectives
• A Time for change: The need for a new narrative on migration

I. A time of transformation

We live in an era of unprecedented human mobility – a period in which more people are on the move than ever before. Amongst those on the move there are, unfortunately more than sixty million displaced as a result of natural disasters, persecution and conflict, complicated by a host of underlying drivers or root causes such as: rapid population growth and urbanization; persistent poverty and growing socioeconomic inequalities; climate change; gender-based discrimination; and, human rights violations.

For many of today’s crises, there is no end in sight – a situation unparalleled in my lifetime. It is clear that the need for humanitarian assistance and protection will only continue to grow in the coming years.

It is in this context that the year 2015 witnessed the convergence of a number of key external processes: the SDGs, the Sendai Declaration, the Humanitarian financing meeting at Addis, and the Agenda 2030 have taken shape. AU recognises the importance of addressing displacement as part of sustainable development.

A.  The World Humanitarian Summit

The World Humanitarian Summit, to be held in Istanbul this May is a central feature in all our calendars. The Summit offers an opportunity to deliver change, to ensure that humanitarian action is able to meet the complexity of current crises, and to collectively seek solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.  From the outset, IOM has been vocal in our support for the WHS and its goals. We want to ensure that traditionally neglected categories of affected populations, such as migrants; victims of human trafficking; environmentally displaced persons; and other invisible groups are appropriately reflected in the WHS discussions and included in its outcomes.

Amongst others, the findings of the High level panel for Humanitarian Financing in July will help to inform and shape the objectives of the World Humanitarian Summit.

B. UN “Grand Bargain” Summit, 19 September

A landmark event for bringing migration issues to the forefront of the international agenda will be the 19 September UN General Assembly event devoted to the large scale movements of refugees and migrants. It is the first event of its kind, and - we hope - will have as a key outcome, a global compact on human mobility. It is time to show solidarity and international cohesion – especially with regards to those vulnerable groups not specifically accorded assistance or protection under any of the current international legal frameworks.

C. IOM’s International transformation

In parallel, IOM has undertaken its own transformation to adapt to these contextual and institutional changes: As our operational footprint has expanded (9000 staff in 480 sites in 170 countries) efforts have been made to improve standards and predictability for crisis response and to strengthen related policy frameworks – all in an effort to position IOM as an essential partner within the humanitarian community and beyond. Now we must ensure that our vision for responding to migration crises helps shape the future system. To do this, we will continue to promote the Migration Governance Framework; the Migration Crisis Operational Framework; and the Migrants in Countries in Crisis Initiative.

II. A time for transition

Central to the transformation process is our ability to address the humanitarian – development nexus. Two brings me to my second point. As a result of these numerous and complex migration crises, we have all had to step-up, surge and re-orientate our response. On our side, we work closely with our partners – in particular, those present with us today. Our goal is to balance a principled humanitarian approach with early investment in fostering resilience.

A. A response continuum

If we are serious about our shared objectives of (a) sustainable solutions to today’s crises and (b) prevention of crises in the future, we then need to work together much more purposefully than in the past – from preparedness and prevention, through emergency response and on to the progressive resolution of displacement situations.

These are not disconnected phases but a continuum – a continuum of actions and common purpose uniting humanitarian and developmental specialists, as well as peacekeepers, peace-builders and human rights and environmental actors. There is no one point in time, no one day on which a response transitions from emergency assistance to recovery, or from recovery to development, but rather over-lapping and complimentary actions contributing to the shared outcomes. The bridge from one to the other is longer and murkier than we have believed in the past. IOM, with its broad and unique mandate, has invested in developing a comprehensive approach; and now we need to be more forthcoming in presenting this vision, bridging across the humanitarian and development dimensions.

B. A partnership response

Effective partnerships are of course central to this continuum approach. Partnerships strengthen the overall response. Sharing and leveraging our joint knowledge, resources and assets expands on coverage; helps overcome obstacles to reaching people in need; and builds resilience. Partnerships capitalise on our respective strengths and composition comparative advantages.

III. A time for change and a new narrative on migration

Current public discourse on migration is increasingly negative and the ways in which migrants, but also refugees, are characterized and perceived. It is time to change this narrative to one that is more balanced and historically accurate – a narrative that recognizes that, historically, migration has been overwhelmingly positive.

Around the world we are seeing a rise in anti-migrant sentiment and anti-migrant policies – from violence against migrants in South Africa, politicians peddling anti-migrant policies to appease their constituents in Europe, and the US; and a prevalence of restrictive policies that only increase irregular migration and migrant vulnerability and subsidize human smugglers.

We must work to eliminate the misleading stereotypes and dangerous mythology around migration and migrants. An honest, evidence-based dialogue is needed to provide the basis for improving public understanding of (a) the benefits of migration and (b) the need to ensure the protection of those in need. Simultaneously we must invest in integrating migrants and displaced populations so that they can contribute to their new societies as well as their home communities which hugely benefit from remittances, whether or not they return home when safe to do so.

We must come to terms with the reality that migration is part and parcel of the inter-connected world we live in today. Migration is inevitable, due to demography and crises; it is necessary, for development potential; and it is desirable, if well-governed.

Conclusion

To conclude, let me recall that today’s event is an opportune moment to take stock, with the support of some of our key partners. Together, we want to evaluate the state of humanitarian action and of transition, recovery and resilience. We do so in order to understand and assess more accurately how we collectively respond to the mobility dimensions of crises. We must recognize that today’s challenges are best met through partnership and joint action. This is especially the case in the field of migration – a human phenomenon, which, by definition, requires a continuum response that transcends any one entity, country or sector.

Let me stress again that 2016 is an important year for IOM, our partners and the people who need and expect our help. The goal of today’s event is to produce a set of concrete recommendations – political, institutional, structural and programmatic – goals that will serve to strengthen our common understanding of the key challenges today’s crises pose and our own evolving role.

I now, give the floor to my colleague and fried, DOE Director, Mohamed Abdiker, to set the scene for today’s discussions.