About IOM
Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.
With 118 member states, a further 20 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
The IOM Constitution recognizes the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement.
IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management:
- Migration and development
- Facilitating migration
- Regulating migration
- Forced migration.
IOM activities that cut across these areas include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants' rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration. More information about IOM and its global operations is available on the web www.iom.int
About IOM Turkey
Turkey joined IOM as a member state in November, 2004, when it ratified a bilateral agreement on the legal status, privileges and immunities of IOM's diplomatic mission to Ankara. IOM has over 250 field offices world wide and operates in areas of emergency assistance , refugee resettlement, assisted voluntary return, migrant health, remittances and promoting legal migration alternatives. The IOM Ankara office was established in 1991 during the Gulf War crisis and over time has evolved to assist the Turkish Government in every aspect of managing migration and combating human trafficking. IOM has offices in Ankara and İstanbul.
In 2005, IOM implemented a comprehensive counter-trafficking program. This includes a $700,000 U.S. government and Turkish government coordinated one-year project. Key activities include law enforcement trainings, protection and identification of trafficked individuals and public awareness raising activities. In addition, IOM is implementimg a $300,000 SIDA-funded project to build NGO capacity, including funds for a new ten-bed shelter facility in Ankara and operations of the new 157 helpline.
History of IOM Ankara
| 1991 |
IOM establishes first mission to Turkey during Gulf Crisis. Offices open in Ankara and Silopi. |
| 1994 |
İstanbul office opens. IOM marks 650,000 refugees assisted from Iraq and Iran since 1990. |
| 1995 |
Bilateral Agreement signed between IOM and Turkish government, covering legal status, privileges and immunities of IOM mission. |
| 1996 |
Northern Iraqi Kurds totalling 6,350 evacuated during IOM-conducted humanitarian airlift. Elsewhere, IOM, Ankara, evacuates 5,765 Kosovo nationals to Turkey during the Kosovo conflict, providing return assistance to 2,200 individuals. |
| 1997 |
IOM assists out of country voting for Bosnians living in Turkey. Carries out Stranded Migrants in Transit Program, assisting migrants without proper documentation reach Western destinations. |
| 1998 |
IOM assists in providing safe haven to 4,000 Bosnian refugees. Conducts the TREP program for Turkish citizens, providing assisted voluntary return for Switzerland rejected asylum seekers. |
| 1999 |
IOM provides return assistance to 1,273 Bosnians returnees from Turkey. |
| 2001 |
IOM coordinates $6 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan during the 2001 conflict, procures tents from Turkey and supplies them to Afghanistan. |
| 2002 |
IOM completes study on Transit Migration through Turkey. Carries out the return of Iraqi nationals in coordination with the Anatolian Development Foundation, funded by the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. |
| 2004 |
Turkey becomes 109th member of IOM. It conducts multiple trainings for Turkish law enforcement on counter-trafficking project funded by the Italian government. IOM assists 63 victims of trafficking to return to their country of origin. |
| 2005 |
U.S. Government funds $600,000 IOM-implemented counter-trafficking program. Program coordinated and co-funded ($100,000) by Turkish government. 47 victims of trafficking assisted by IOM in first two months of 2005, exceeding 2004 pace. IOM manages out of country voting program for Iraqi citizens in Turkey. Swedish Consulate in Istanbul awards IOM new program to write strategic plan for building NGO capacity for counter-trafficking. |
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