Friday 5 September 2003

Press Briefing Notes
Friday 5 September 2003
Spokesperson: Niurka Piñeiro

LIBYA - Official Visit of IOM's Director General to Discuss Migration Issues
ECUADOR - New Database of Ecuadorian Migrants in Spain
ECUADOR - Assistance to Local Population and Colombians in Northern Border
COLOMBIA - IOM Awards for Social Responsibility


LIBYA - Official Visit of IOM's Director General to Discuss Migration Issues - IOM's Director General Brunson McKinley
starts today a four-day official visit to Libya to discuss various migration issues with Libyan officials.

This official visit, the first by an IOM Director General, will focus on the strengthening of partnership and on increasing cooperation between IOM and Libya.

During his visit, Mr. McKinley is scheduled to meet the Libyan leadership in order to discuss issues related to the Libyan migration dynamics.

Some of the topics that will be discussed include:

Labour selection programmes for migrant workers, whose skills match Libya's labour need;
Capacity building projects for Libyan civil servants dealing with migration issues;
Assistance programmes for trafficked migrants;
Assisted voluntary return and reintegration programmes for irregular migrants in Libya;
Information campaigns to raise awareness amongst potential irregular migrants; and
Income generating programmes in neighbouring countries for potential migrants to Libya.





The Director General will also discuss with the concerned officials the possibility of building a partnership with the Gaddafi
International Foundation for Charity Associations.

The formulation of coordinated responses to migration challenges in the context of the Western Mediterranean will also be discussed with the Libyans officials. The Western Mediterranean dialogue, or 5+5 Regional Process, brings together ministers and representatives of the governments of Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia to discuss regional cooperation.

IOM lends its expertise and acts as an honest broker to support regional consultative processes on migration related issues in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe and will continue to assist the "5+5" migration dialogue.

ECUADOR - New Database of Ecuadorian Migrants in Spain - The IOM office in Quito is working with the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Relations to create a database of Ecuadorian migrants in Spain.

The pilot phase of the IOM-designed database will get underway in five consular offices in Spain - Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Murcia and Valencia. All Ecuadorians currently in Spain irrespective of their status can register.

Based on the success of this project, the Government of Ecuador aims to put in place similar registration programmes in other countries with large numbers of Ecuadorian migrants - mainly the United States, Canada, Venezuela and Italy,

According to Article 23 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families <http://www.migrantsrights.org/Int_Conv_Prot_Rights_MigWorkers_Fam_1999_En.htm>, "Migrant workers and members of their families shall have the right to have recourse to the protection and assistance of the consular or diplomatic authorities of their State of origin or of a State representing the interests of that State whenever the rights recognized in the present Convention are impaired. In particular, in case of expulsion, the person concerned shall be informed of this right without delay and the authorities of the expelling State shall facilitate the exercise of such right".

As a signatory to the Convention, Ecuador is keen to create the infrastructure necessary to protect and assist and provide consular services to its citizens living abroad.

For more information, contact Rosa Garcia, IOM Quito, Tel: 593.22.44.49.28 quito@iom.int

ECUADOR - Assistance to Local Population and Displaced Colombians in Northern Border - Since January 2001 when IOM began the "Community Strengthening of the Northern Border Provinces of Ecuador Programme", more than 200.000 persons have received assistance; amongst them are 50% of all Colombian refugees living in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that since January 2000, 17,816 Colombians have applied for refugee status in Ecuador. Out of this total, 50% have been processed in the border provinces of Esmeraldas, Carchi, Sucumbíos, and Imbabura, where the IOM programme is being carried out.

Ecuador's Northern border has been for decades one of the poorest and most vulnerable regions of the country. The population, some 50% Afro-Ecuadorian and indigenous people, did not have access to basic services, such as potable water and/or sewage systems. Poor health conditions have also been a problem for this population. The arrival of displaced Colombians, who began fleeing into Ecuador in 2000, posed the challenge for IOM to help these border communities to increase their capacity to absorb the new arrivals, as well as to help them in their development.

Since 2001, 30 water systems have been built on rural and semi-urban towns, as well as 16 bridges, a 57-mile road, and 6 irrigation ditches. These projects have improved not only the health and sanitation, but have increased the productivity of this region that lives mostly of trading crops and fish.

In 2002, IOM provided the town of General Farfán with potable water, and is now helping to build the sewer system that will benefit over 1,200 persons. This town is located on the San Miguel River and has become an important point of entry for displaced Colombians. The infrastructure built by IOM has enhanced Farfán's capacity to receive the Colombians fleeing the fighting.

Dr. Pedro Martinez, Director of the local health centre said, "Ever since the town has safe drinking water, gastrointestinal diseases have fallen by 70%."

And according to Simón Castro, Head of IOM's Regional Office, "Once the sewer system is operational, health conditions will improve by almost 90%."

As these communities are also affected by high unemployment, IOM encourages the use of local labour for all of its projects. This means that some 1200 heads of families have been employed on different projects, which has directly benefited some 6000 people.

Over US$20 million have been invested in the programme with funding provided by USAID. The programme is carried out in coordination with UDENOR, the agency created by the Ecuadorian Government to oversee the social and political situation of the border area.

For more information contact, IOM Quito, Maria Isabel Moncayo Tel: 593.22.44.49.29 mmoncayo@oim.org.ec

COLOMBIA - IOM Awards for Social Responsibility - IOM, USAID, the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare, the Social Solidarity Network, the Government of the Valle del Cauca and the Mayor's Office of Cali, have awarded private businesses for their work helping populations affected by the armed conflict and by human trafficking.

The IOM Awards for Social Responsibility were given to eight Colombian companies during a ceremony held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Cali on 3 September. Representatives from the civil society and from the media attended the event.

One of the businesses awarded is the Centre for Leather Production (Centro de Desarrollo Productivo del Cuero - CDP), which is currently training 40 young demobilized persons for work in the department of Valle.

The CDP also took part in an IOM programme, which trained 400 displaced persons for a period of four months in the design of leather products and footwear. IOM subsidized a percentage of the salary during the training period.

The Carcafé y Empresas de Nariño Group was also awarded for its work in improving rural housing and providing basic equipment for the production of coffee. IOM provided sanitary units for the housing and purchased some of the equipment. This programme has helped 461 families.

Textiles Velanex also received an award for supporting IOM's National Campaign Against People Trafficking by including the Campaign's slogan on all its products.

Through this type of event, IOM aims to promote social responsibility amongst businesses and improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations.