108th session of the Council of the International Organization for Migration takes place in Geneva

On November 28 – December 1, 2017 the 108th session of the Council of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is taking place in Geneva, being attended by the representatives of the Member States, observers, international organizations, including NGOs (UNHCR, ILO, WHO, World Bank, ICRC, African Union and others).

Mr. William Swing, IOM Director General, Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly and Ms. Louise Arbor, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for international migration addressed the audience. Participants of the session discuss the main trends in the development of migration processes, celebrate the anniversary of IOM’s joining the United Nations system and the results of the Organization's activities during this period, consider the state of the consultation process on the elaboration of the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, as well as the IOM’s program of work for the next year.

Y.Klymenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine, in his statement during the general debate on November 29 positively noted the Organization’s joining the UN system last year, as well as highlighted IOM’s leading role in facilitating the intergovernmental negotiation process on the elaboration of the Global Compact for Migration. He stressed upon the need to take into account the issue of internal displacement in further relevant global agreements, drawing attention to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, in particular around internally displaced people, in the context of the ongoing Russian aggression against our country, as well as positively appraised the IOM activities in Ukraine, its assistance in confronting socio-economic challenges, and expressed hope for deepening of interaction with the abovementioned Organization.