International Organization for Migration

35th Session of the Standing Committee on Programmes and Finance

04-05 November 2024

Item 14(a) IOM’s approach to protection of migrants and displaced persons

Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States

Chair,

I am speaking on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[*], the EFTA country Norway, as well as Armenia align themselves with this statement.

1. The EU and its Member States welcome the comprehensive overview of IOM’s history and work in protection, its current efforts, and its vision for the future. We commend the structured and cooperative approach taken by the IOM in collaboration with other UN entities and humanitarian organizations to strengthen protection mechanisms. We particularly encourage the IOM to further strengthen its collaboration with the UNHCR on the route-based approach and on protection to Internally Displaced Persons, while respecting their respective mandates.
2. As a strong proponent of a rights-based approach to migration, the EU and its Member States are pleased to see IOM’s commitment to this principle, as reflected in its Strategic Plan (2024-2028). We commend IOM’s efforts to ensure that safe migration pathways remain regular and orderly and that protection is integrated into all stages of migration governance, in line with national competences, while addressing challenges associated with irregular migration. We encourage the IOM to advocate for stronger national laws protecting migrants and displaced persons, while respecting national competences, ensuring that they have access to legal aid and justice. We call the IOM to strengthen human rights violations reporting mechanisms for migrants and displaced persons.
3. The EU and its Member States also recognise the importance of the IOM Protection Roadmap and the institutional approach to mainstreaming protection across all IOM sectors. We will engage further with the IOM to implement the recommendations and support efforts to enhance accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in protecting migrants and displaced persons.
4. We appreciate the progress made and we remain committed to collaborating with the International Organization for Migration to advance our shared objectives.

Thank you

[*] North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.