18 December - International Migrants Day.

Kyiv, 18 December 2007- On International Migrants' Day, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says the successful management of global labour mobility can best be achieved through the implementation of comprehensive and cooperative policies that ensure protection of the rights of migrants and of temporary contractual workers.  IOM is pleased to note recent strong indications that the world is ready for better management of global labour mobility.  

"Protecting the human rights of migrants and of temporary contractual workers is paramount to ensuring global labour mobility delivers its full economic and human potential for the benefit of all concerned," says IOM's Director General Brunson McKinley.

Labour mobility is a key feature of globalization with a significant impact on the global economy. In 2007, migrant workers from developing countries sent home through formal channels more than US $240 billion, whilst at the same time making significant contributions to the economic growth and prosperity of host countries.

Despite their positive contribution to the global economy, migrant workers continue to face challenges in many parts of the world, including poor working conditions and various forms of abuse and discrimination. 

IOM in Ukraine's commitment to raising concern for the human dignity and well-being of migrants is reflected in all its activities, projects and programmes. IOM activity in this context includes working directly with migrants to ensure that their rights are protected and cooperating with governments to establish migration management systems tasked with preventing human rights abuses. Addressing migrant rights lies at the core of all of IOM migration management activities.  IOM works with government counterparts to ensure the humane detention of irregular migrants as envisaged by the IOM Kyiv-produced document "Guidelines and Best Practices for Migrant Accommodation Centres."  IOM continues to collaborate with and advise national governmental bodies on the development of migration management systems that presuppose the unencumbered use of legal mechanisms charged with protecting migrants' rights and the provision of unfettered access to relevant services for migrants.  

IOM lends great importance to educating potential migrants on their rights and obligations prior to their departure. To this end, IOM in Ukraine established five Centers for Migrant Advice (CMAs) in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Ternopil that provide information on migrants' rights, regular migration, and advice on detecting and avoiding fraudulent visa and employment agencies. Furthermore, CMAs have worked with State Employment Centres in order to increase the latter's capacity to respond to migration queries.

"International experience attests to the incontrovertible importance of promoting a human rights-based approach to migration management.  IOM in Ukraine is working in concert with Ukrainian governmental bodies and elements of civil society to ensure the rigorous and unfailing observance of migrants' rights," emphasizes Jeffrey Labovitz, Chief of the IOM Mission in Ukraine