Return Migration: Challenges and Opportunities (2008)

The image of a small fishing boat drifting in the middle of the ocean brings into sharp relief key issues pertaining to the complex phenomenon of irregular migration and raises such questions as: Who are the people in the boat? What are their motivations? What are their needs? What is their legal status? Within whose responsibility do these persons fall? How can States and other stakeholders best address such situations? What can be done to reduce the incidence of such events and avoid undue suffering and loss of life?

The notion that migration flows are “mixed” is not an altogether new one. Migration has always been a multidimensional phenomenon, involving a variety of people who are on the move for a diversity of reasons. The IOM Constitution1 notes that “international migration also includes that of refugees, displaced persons and other individuals compelled to leave their homelands” and calls for “facilitating the emigration of persons who desire to migrate to countries where they may achieve self-dependence through their employment and live with their families in dignity and self-respect”. The IOM Strategy2 further reiterates the need to support “States, migrants and communities in addressing the challenges of irregular migration”, including through “regional and global debate and dialogue on migration”.

Agenda

Tuesday, 2 December 2008
10:00 - 13:00	Opening procedures, election of officers, adoption of the agenda and admission of new Members and observers Statements by the Director General and the Deputy Director General Presentation by the Administration and discussion "The Road Ahead" - Presentation by the Director General to the IOM Council Presentation of the World Migration Report 2008 on Managing Labour Mobility in the Evolving Global Economy Presentation of the 2008 World Migration Report
15:00 - 18:00	General Debate - Statements by Members and Observers Director General’s Summary of Deliberations
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
10:00 - 11:30	Special Panel: Global Migration Group (GMG) -an interactive discussion with IOM’s membership on the impact of the global financial crisis on migrants and migration as well as the GMG’s work to date and priority areas of focus.   High-level presentations and discussion
11:30 - 13:00	General Debate - Statements by Members and Observers
15:00 - 18:00	General Debate - Statements by Members and Observers
Thursday, 4 December 2008 International Dialogue on Migration - Return Migration: Challenges and Opportunities
10:00 - 13:00	a) Return Migration: Challenges and Opportunities – managing return migration so as to maximize its benefits and minimize its potential negative effects Opening presentation - IOM Administration High-level presentations and discussion Panellists: Vandi Minah  (Bio), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sierra Leone Alfonso Lopez, Undersecretary of Consular Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ecuador  Lolita Maguigad (Bio | Presentation), Development Communications Officer, Unlad Kabayan, The Philippines
15:00 - 18:00	b) Migration Highlights – selected recent and forthcoming migration developments High-level presentations and discussion Panellists: Erlinda F. Basilio (Presentation), Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, and Athanasios Nakos (Bio | Presentation), Deputy Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization, Greece, on the Global Forum on Migration and Development Mauricio Hernández, Undersecretary for Prevention and Promotion of Health, Mexico, on HIV/AIDS and mobile populations (Presentation) Jean-Christophe Peaucelle, Head, Office of European Affairs, Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Solidarity Development, France, on migration as a priority of the French EU Presidency Fathia Alwan, Programme Officer for Social Development, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), on IGAD Regional Consultative Process on migration (Presentation)
Friday, 5 December 2008 International Dialogue on Migration (cont'd)
10:00 - 12:45	c) Addressing Mixed Migration Flows Opening presentation - IOM Administration High-level presentations and discussion Panellists: António Guterres (Bio), High Commissioner, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Trygve Nordby (Bio), Chairperson, IFRC Reference Group on Migration, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Johan Ketelers (Bio | Presentation), Secretary General, International Catholic Migration Committee

Event documents

• Mixed Migration Flows
• Return Migration
• 96th Council Session Documents
• IDM 2008 Key Policy Principles for Return Migration