Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour for me, and my IOM colleagues, to be here
today to take part in this Seminar on Practical Cooperation in the
Field of Asylum and Protection.  We thank our hosts, the
Swedish Presidency of the European Union, for holding this
important event.  

Introduction 

 

Our gathering today is significant for several reasons.  I
would cite two with particular relevance.  

First is the sheer importance of rallying together to address
one of the most important geo-political phenomena of our era
– human mobility.  

 

Today, there are more people on the move than at any other time in
recorded history.  Today there are nearly 1 billion migrants
in the world --- one in every 6 or 7 people --- made up of some 214
million international migrants  and 740 million internal
migrants.   (And of this total number, refugees and
asylum-seekers account for a relatively small portion.) 

This number includes the more than 15 million refugees in the
world today.  Many of whom have lived most, or all, of their
lives in refugee camps with limited prospect of returning to their
homes.

For a variety of reasons, large-scale flows of people will
likely continue throughout this century --- demographic and skills
deficits in much of the industrialized world --- aging populations
and dramatically declining birth-rates, amounting to present and
longer-term negative population growth --- compounded with global
supply chains resulting from economic integration, and the effects
in the South of climate change, food scarcity and conflict, high
birth rates and a slow pace of job creation --- all of these
elements will ensure continuing large-scale
migration.   

 

Together we must continue to evolve and expand our capacity through
partnership, to facilitate human mobility in an orderly and humane
manner.  Well-prepared migration -- even for resettlement of
forced migrants --- is in the best interest of individuals and host
societies.  And no single organization or government can
manage migration alone.  We all need partners --- Governments;
civil society; UN agencies; the academic world; and of course, our
partners in resettlement countries.  

Second, our gathering today and tomorrow offers us the
opportunity to develop within our collective sphere of action,
practical measures for the immediate future. 

Our gracious hosts and organizers emphasized this notion in the
title of this session “practical cooperation.”  In
his letter of May 18th inviting me to today’s seminar, H.E.
Dan Eliasson, Director-General of the Swedish Migration Board,
asked me to focus my remarks on a single question, that of
resettlement.  In many respects, resettlement is the
penultimate state of protection and asylum cases, and for IOM,
resettlement is one of our traditional, core activities. (And we
will come to the end-state of protection and asylum in Part
II.)        

 

Since its establishment in 1951, IOM has facilitated the
resettlement of more than 15 million people around the world. 
That’s equivalent to the combined populations of Sweden and
Denmark. 

 

This overall number of migrants includes the 406,000 European
refugees that were resettled in the early 1950s to overseas
locations.  IOM’s name at the time reflected this aspect
of our work: the Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the
Movement of Migrants from Europe (PICMME).

From exporting migrants over several decades after the Second
World War, Europe has experienced a sea change in migration
dynamics.  Europe has become a major region of destination and
asylum; Europe has for example, resettled within its territory more
than 45,000 persons since 2000 alone. 

The figures speak for themselves.  Of the 23 countries
worldwide engaged in resettlement programmes today --- 14 are EU
Member States --- an achievement of which the EU can be proud, and
rightly so. 

Given the very large need for resettlement opportunities, it is
our hope that both the number of resettlement countries in the EU
and the overall number of refugees resettled will increase steadily
in years to come --- such increases would be a reflection of
Europe's commitment to burden sharing and humanitarian action with
respect to persons forcibly displaced from their homes.

With this by way of background and introduction, I would like to
make three points.  The first is that changing migration
dynamics presents the EU with the challenge, and opportunity, to
develop policies that best serve the collective interests both of
EU member states and migrants themselves.

I. Changing Migration Dynamics: Evolution of European
Resettlement

With admirable consistency and continuity in an entire series of
EU Presidencies, the EU has taken a series of important steps to
address asylum seekers, provide humanitarian assistance, and
advance migration management.  These steps have been taken
within the framework laid down in The Hague Programme, approved by
the European Council in November 2004.  And we have every
reason to believe that migration will continue to feature in the
agendas of successive EU Presidencies.   

Endorsement of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum of
October 2008, and the future Lisbon treaty, will further
consolidate the EU’s competencies in the field of migration,
including asylum and protection areas.  

The European Refugee Resettlement Scheme, along with the opening
of Emergency Transit Centres in Romania and Slovakia are compelling
demonstrations of a common EU approach to resettlement.

IOM welcomes the EU Refugee Resettlement Scheme and the
establishment of a common system.  We applaud the
incorporation of resettlement into the EU’s Immigration and
Asylum Policy. 

Finally, I would like to congratulate the Swedish Presidency on
its forward leaning Stockholm Programme --- a timely policy
initiative that promises to advance common standards, resettlement
best practices, and the formal recognition of the EU’s
readiness to assist migrants and help third countries to put in
place effective protection.

EU states, individually and collectively, can count on
IOM’s full support to put policy into practice --- and with
millions of refugees the world over in need of assistance, there
will certainly be no shortage of demand.  

II. Successful Resettlement: Successful
Integration

The second point I would like to make is that beyond warranting
international protection, the most effective way to measure the
success of resettlement programmes is the integration of migrants
into their host societies.  If, as I said earlier,
resettlement is the penultimate state of protection and asylum
cases, then integration is the end-state of this process.

IOM resettles 200,000 refugees and migrants every year. In doing
so, we spend annually, more than US$ 100 million dollars in one-way
airline tickets.  

IOM’s services are complementary to UNHCR’s --- we
are natural partners and in 2011, we will celebrate 60 years of
partnership.  The roots of our relationship date back to the
aftermath of the Second World War and the International Refugee
Organization, disbanded in 1951 just prior to the establishment of
IOM and UNHCR.  We have since been joined at the hip, so to
speak, assuming different yet complementary and mutually
reinforcing roles.  And relations have never been better, from
my point of view. 

UNHCR’s convention provides the agency with the mandate
for protection and asylum.  IOM does not have a protection
mandate per se.  The preamble of our Constitution, however,
recognizes that IOM is “to facilitate, under the most
favourable conditions, the settlement and integration of migrants
in the economic and social structure of the country of
reception.”   

 

Ultimately, therefore, IOM shares with UNHCR, and with resettlement
countries and our many partners in civil society, a common
responsibility and a common objective: to assist refugees,
displaced persons and other individuals compelled to leave their
homelands --- all of whose only option is to be
resettled. 

Once refugees and other migrants are resettled, we have learned
from our experience that integration is the best guarantee for
durable, sustainable resettlement.  

We know, however, that adapting to new cultures, a different way
of life, and a strange language is never easy.  In the
process, migrants risk losing their identity, social exclusion,
marginalization, and discrimination.  

 

States also face challenges, especially in the post 9/11
environment --- a watershed period that has brought to a head the
question of what represents successful integration --- and, to what
degree should migrants be encouraged to hold on to their own
cultural values as opposed to absorbing those of their host
country. 

There are no easy answers to these questions; it is safe to say,
however, that integration is a dynamic two-way process --- one of
mutual adjustment and accommodation both by the migrants as well as
host community.

The integration process often begins with IOM’s cultural
orientation and language programmes; these operate in 44 countries
and assist as many as 50,000 migrants each year to prepare for
their “new life.”  (One example: At Japan’s
request, we are teaching Japanese to a small group of Myanmar
refugees in Northern Thailand to prepare them for resettlement and
integration in Japan)

The process continues with IOM medical health assessments often
including DNA and TB tests.  Last year, IOM did 231, 000
medical exams in 40 countries.  Following onward travel, IOM
engages with our partners in civil society and immigrant
communities in receiving countries to help pave the way for newly
arrived migrants to integrate into their new
communities.    

Integration has particular relevance in a period of global
economic and financial crisis.  I say particular relevance
because there seems to be a tendency on the part of some
Governments to think about migration in counter-cyclical terms in
the midst of the present financial crisis.  That is to say,
the tendency is to harden attitudes towards migrants and send them
home --- a sort of “human protection” policy, if you
will --- whereas migrants will be needed if our economies are to
recover. 

The economic and social contribution of migrants has long been a
key ingredient in both global economic recovery and in the
achievement of long-term development goals --- and this is the case
for both developing and more-developed countries.

As difficult as it undoubtedly is to alter attitudes,
regulations and legislation, it would be prudent for Governments to
continue giving close consideration to integration policies and
approaches.  Even traditionally closed societies are beginning
to recognize that temporary labour schemes are not longer able to
meet domestic labour market demands.  Hence, these societies
are turning gradually to integration policies as
well.    

III. Resettlement: An Integral Part of Migration
Management

My final point is that resettlement should be incorporated into
the broader context of migration management.

There are profound differences in the circumstances of refugees
and other migrants.  Yet, once a person has been identified
refugee resettlement --- for humanitarian or trafficking
protection, for labour migration, for immigration or for family
reunion --- it would be prudent for us all to ensure that the
migration and integration experience is as well-prepared and
productive as possible. 

Resettlement programmes are most effective when part of a
comprehensive system --- one that facilitates migrant integration
and promotes an orderly and humane flow of
populations.   

Migration is becoming more and more complex --- we all have to
address simultaneously permanent and temporary labour migration;
irregular migration, asylum seekers, and the whole question of
“mixed flows.” Governments will find it in their
interest, therefore, to draw on the entire range of labour and
other migration options at their disposal.

In the vanguard of innovation, EU Member States have come to
realize a common approach to migration --- an approach designed to
integrate resettlement into the broader EU Immigration strategy, in
partnership with countries of origin and countries of transit.

Conclusion

 

To conclude, let me summarize my remarks: 

One: Faced with changing migration dynamics, European countries
have taken a series of important migration management steps. 
These include addressing proactively its role as a resettlement
region, while seeking to ensure adequate protection and the rights
of asylum seekers. 

Two: Societal integration is the best indicator of successful
resettlement programmes --- and the end-state of the asylum and
protection process.

Three: To meet future challenges, and reap the benefits of human
mobility, resettlement should be an integral part of migration
management.

As the EU moves towards a common voluntary resettlement scheme,
the Union can be assured of the full and active support of IOM and
its 7000 dedicated professionals in 400 locations on all five
continents around the globe. 

In conclusion, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank
you for inviting IOM to take part today.  This promises to be
a fruitful discussion on a critical topic with the objective of
achieving pragmatic, practical results.