New Platform Set to Improve Information Sharing on Migrant Smuggling by Sea
Switzerland - A new inter-agency platform for information sharing on migrant smuggling by sea has been launched on 6 July by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in order to better understand unsafe mixed migration by sea.
It is anticipated that the platform will assist in improved monitoring of incidents associated with unsafe and irregular mixed migration by sea, on a global basis, with a view to better analysis of trends.
The IMO/IOM/UNODC platform will include a joint database on migrant incidents and on suspected smugglers and vessels. A revised reporting format for States, international organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations to submit information to the database was recently agreed at IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 95).
The joint information sharing platform was initiated following the Inter-agency High-level Meeting to Address Unsafe Mixed Migration in March, which was held at IMO Headquarters, London with the aim of aim of facilitating dialogue and promoting enhanced cooperation and harmonization between United Nations agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, Governments and the shipping industry. That meeting agreed on the need for timely and accurate information on migrant incidents and on suspected smugglers and vessels.
The joint platform will be hosted on IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) and will include publicly accessible data (via https://gisis.imo.org/Public/) and restricted access information for Member States.
For further information please contact:
IMO: Lee Adamson or Natasha Brown, Email media@imo.org
IOM: Leonard Doyle, Email ldoyle@iom.int
UNODC: Alun Jones, Email Alun.JONES@unodc.org
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IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of pollution by ships.
Web site: www.imo.org