Over the past 13 years, conflict has ravaged Northwest Syria, leaving scars on both the land and its people. In February 2023, after earthquakes dealt a further blow, crippling vital water infrastructure, residents of camps in the northwest faced prolonged water shortages due to damage sustained by a crucial elevated water tank. However, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) managed to reconstruct three elevated water tanks, restoring access to safe and clean water for over 67,500 earthquake-affected communities.

Every year, thousands of migrants are killed or disappear while attempting the perilous journey to the U.S.-Mexico border, making it one of the world's riskiest and deadliest land routes for migrants, human rights groups say. Many are forced to migrate to escape poverty, violence and human rights abuses. Faced with increasingly restrictive migration policies and limited opportunities for safe and regular migration, many resort to unsafe and irregular routes. UN Human Rights works with Member States, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions, migrants, families and other stakeholders to ensure access to justice and the protection of the human rights of all migrants.

Unlocking migration’s potential is key to accelerating efforts to meet the significant challenges of the 2030 Agenda. People on the move are powerful drivers for development in both their origin and destination countries, serving as workers, students, entrepreneurs, family members, artists, and much more. On International Migrants Day (18 December), we celebrate and reflect on the contributions of millions of migrants worldwide. Every person can make a difference. Every person can be an agent of change. Our collective actions today will prepare us for a better tomorrow.

IOM offers humanitarian assistance and protection services to a young migrant mother, who undertook a perilous journey to Yemen in search of better livelihood opportunities.

With 140 million women and girls on the move, accounting for half of the world's migrants, the International Organization for Migration recognizes that gender inequalities manifest differently depending on where women find themselves in the world. A new competition called “Women on the Wall,” saw nine artists from seven different countries paying tribute to a remarkable migrant woman, known and celebrated for her achievements in technology and innovation, through visual art in a public space.

Technologies can be used for good by providing migrants with the ability to stay connected to their families and communities and to make complaints about chronic abuses. However, a new study from OHCHR reveals technologies can also harm human rights during the migration processes, with no real safeguards put in place. The report exposes multiple harms linked to the use of digital technologies in the management of borders, such as biometric recognition tools and massive interoperable databases, often linking information across government sectors and deployed in insecure ways. Emotion detection systems are also being used to justify migration decisions, leading to biased and discriminatory practices.

Amy Pope, Director General of IOM, is advocating for a new narrative around the issue of migrants, arguing that in an ageing world, “ultimately, countries will be competing for migrants”. 

Humanity has always been on the move. Some in search of work or economic opportunity, to join family, or to study. Others move to escape conflict, persecution or large-scale human rights violations. Still others move in response to the adverse effects of climate change, natural disasters or other environmental factors. 

In her very first week on the job, she sat down with UN News’s Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer to talk about a comprehensive view of migration and its causes.

Photo Credit: © IOM

Ditraiza Ramírez is a Venezuelan migrant entrepreneur living in Cali, Colombia. In her spare time, she helps migrants learn about their rights to social protection.

Ruma, a 38-year-old widowed single mother of one from a small town in southern Bangladesh experienced social harassment after her husband died, forcing her to migrate. Through an arranged marriage of convenience, she made it to Italy. Despite her attempts to succeed in Italy she decided to return home to Bangladesh, where she learned about the IOM’s Prottasha project. The team has provided her with financial literacy and in-kind support. She has finally been able to provide for her son who is currently pursuing his future.

Despite several attempts at searching for a better future for his family, Moharaj, he ran into one problem after another resulting in failure. After being smuggled into Syria he hoped to make it to Italy. One year later, he boarded an overloaded boat to seek refuge on an island in Greece. He eventually discovered that IOM provided support to migrants who voluntarily chose to return home. Due to an injury that left him permanently disabled, IOM extended much needed support through the Prottasha project, which has rekindled hope in his family.

Despite restrictions on women's freedom of movement and an environment of fear, female humanitarian workers continue to provide vital support to Afghan women. Every month, IOM provides assistance to 162,000 women in Afghanistan.

Being indebted is common for migrants and may lead to involuntary re-migration. An IOM study finds that regardless of country of origin or gender, the majority (72 per cent) of returnees surveyed reported having borrowed money, with 92 per cent of them still having to repay all or some of that debt. Returnees often reported stress, stigma, and shame because of indebtedness. A reduction in the costs of migration could lead to better, more sustainable reintegration outcomes. 

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, nearly 8 million people have fled to neighbouring countries. Poland has received close to 1.5 million people. When Tatiana first arrived in Poland she had significant culture shock; she felt stressed and overwhelmed by the many changes in her life. Tatiana soon realized that she needed to find a job to support her family, but she wanted to do something that she was good at and passionate about. A special IOM initiative in Poland would give Tatiana the chance to meet some amazing women to support her through the difficult period she was enduring.

Over the last decade, reports of labour exploitation of migrants and even forced labour have been widespread. After a complaint in2014, following a period of intense negotiations, the State of Qatar and the ILO launched a programme to support major labour reforms.

The boat departs on Sunday and Thursday evenings and arrives on the shores of Yemen by dawn. Smugglers count the migrants – a standard practice to ensure that only those who have paid get onboard. The country’s instability, coupled with a historically brutal drought and other effects of climate change, is deepening irregular migration through and from the Horn of Africa, forcing thousands of vulnerable people to attempt risky journeys. IOM works with partners and governments to assist and protect vulnerable migrants from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti moving to and from Yemen.