News

Security Concerns Slow Relief Efforts and Temporarily Closes Offices
Ongoing public protests over the re-publication of cartoons in the
western media depicting the Prophet Mohammad are curtailing IOM
relief operations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and North West
Frontier Province.

New Agreement on Counter-Trafficking
A cooperation agreement signed between IOM and the Tajik government
this week will allow greater interaction between the two parties on
combating human trafficking in the country.

Drama To Help Combat Human Trafficking
"People of the Road", a new play highlighting the issue of human
trafficking among primary school children, is touring the Province
of Kosovo as part of an IOM counter-trafficking information
campaign.

Award For IOM Staff
IOM's representative for Central and Eastern Europe, Argentina
Szabados, is to be given an award by the Hungarian Interior
Minister, Monika Lamperth, in recognition of her long-standing
dedication and exceptional contribution to countering human

Increasing the Impact of the Salvadorian Diaspora on the Development of their Country of Origin
Reaching out to the diaspora to engage them in the development of
their countries of origin has moved to the top of the agendas of
sending countries.
A new IOM pilot project, being launched today in San Salvador

Micro Credit Schemes for Migrant Families
IOM's new micro credit project to help migrant families in
Argentina granted its first two loans this week.

New Counter Trafficking Laws Introduced
Sri Lanka has introduced amendments to counter-trafficking laws in
a move to bring national legislation in line with international
law. The amendment has changed the definition of trafficking in the
Penal Code, as required by the UN protocol against trafficking in

Agreement on Monitoring Living Conditions in Temporary Installation Centre for Irregular Migrants
IOM, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and the Portuguese Ministry
of Interior have signed an agreement to ensure premises used for
the detention of irregular migrants awaiting deportation meet
humanitarian standards.

More Children Rescued From Forced Labour
Thirteen more children were rescued last week from forced labour at
a fishing community near Yeji on the northern shores of Ghana's
Lake Volta by IOM.

Relief Work Continues
With good weather conditions holding for just over a week, IOM has
accelerated its relief activities in quake-hit areas of North West
Frontier Province (NWFP) and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

New EU-funding to Provide Housing for Vulnerable Families
The IOM Mission in Belgrade is launching a new one-year programme
to provide housing for vulnerable families of former refugees and
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are currently living in
overcrowded collective centres.

IOM Agreement With Arab Labour Organization
IOM and the Arab Labour Organization (ALO) yesterday signed a
cooperation agreement aimed at helping both achieve common
objectives on migration issues in the Arab region.