The International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) provides a forum to States, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations to discuss migration policy issues, in order to explore and study policy issues of common interest and cooperate in addressing them.

IOM’s Constitution sets forth as one of the principal purposes and functions of the Organization:

"to provide a forum to States as well as international and other organizations for the exchange of views and experiences, and the promotion of co-operation and co-ordination of efforts on international migration issues, including studies on such issues in order to develop practical solutions." Article 1(1)(e).

Since the 50th anniversary session of the Council in 2001, IOM’s membership has been conducting the IDM, precisely to fulfill this purpose and function. Each year, IOM’s membership selects a theme to guide the policy dialogue at the annual Council session, as well as two/three intersessional workshops over the course of the year which provide an opportunity for governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to discuss topical migration policy issues in depth in an informal, non-binding setting.

As an example, for 2005, the overall theme was "Toward Policy Coherence on Migration", and workshops were held on "Migration and Development" (February 2005), and "Developing Capacity to Manage Migration" (September 2005). In 2006, the overall theme is "Partnerships in Migration: Engaging Business and Civil Society", with workshops on "Migration and Human Resources for Health" (March 2006) and "Migrants and Host Societies" (July 2006)". Many of the workshops are conducted in partnership with relevant UN and other inter-governmental organizations, as in the case of the health workers workshop which was co-sponsored by WHO and ILO. Moreover, NGOs, experts, representatives of the private sector and civil society regularly participate.

The International Dialogue on Migration works through the IOM Council and pursues cooperation and partnerships with the UN and other international and regional organizations and stakeholders through annual Sessions at Council and intersessional workshops. The five main thematic areas covered in the workshops up to now have been the following: Migration and Development, Migration and Trade, Migration and Health, Approaches to Data Collection and Data Management, and Developing Capacity to Manage Migration. The links between migrants and host societies as well as those between environment and migration are the next topics to be addressed within the course of 2006.