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| Sunday, 16 November 2003 |
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'Don't take risks', would-be migrants told by P. KRISHNASWAMY The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the world renowned humanitarian organisation on migration issues, has launched an awareness campaign in Colombo, on the theme 'don't put yourself at risk', to prevent irregular/illegal migration from and through Sri Lanka and to provide information on possibilities of regular migration. To herald the six-week long mass media campaign which began on November 12, the IOM held a press conference at the Galle Face Hotel with the participation of Secretary to the Interior Minister, M. N. Junaid, as chief guest and representatives of the IOM, European Union and the Italian Embassy. Established in 1951 as an inter-governmental organisation to resettle European displaced persons, refugees and migrants, IOM has now grown to encompass a variety of migration management activities throughout the world. IOM had worked with the government to help 95,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers return home from countries affected by the first Gulf War. The organisation has 103 world nations in its membership, including Sri Lanka. It was revealed at the press conference that the IOM had launched the awareness campaign in the light of the facts that: Sri Lankans migrate to foreign countries in large numbers, most often with the intention of working. In many cases, migrants did not have the appropriate travel documents required to allow them to stay and work in the countries of destination. This irregular status can make migrants vulnerable to arrest, detention, deportation, financial ruin, exploitation, abuse and even loss of life. It also makes them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by unscrupulous smugglers, traffickers and foreign employers. In recent years, there has been an increase in the smuggling of people from Sri Lanka to destinations such as Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Some migrants travel illegally by ship, while others travel by air with irregular documentation. In most cases, these journeys are long and dangerous and full of physical and psychological hardship. The Government of Sri Lanka and the authorities of many destination countries have recently become more active in stopping irregular migration. In the past year, a large number of people arrested while attempting to travel illegally from Sri Lanka to Europe by boat are now faced with serious legal problems and financial loss without even reaching their destinations. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. Its objective is to promote regular labour migration within the framework of combatting irregular migration, fostering the economic and social development of countries of origin, transit and destination while respecting the rights and integrity of migrants. In collaboration with concerned governments and other agencies, IOM has developed specific labour migration programmes that can benefit both sending and receiving countries by facilitating more orderly migration and by better linking of migration to development. More specifically, IOM can assist the overseas employment institutions of sending countries through technical support in areas such as the analysis of job opportunities, improvement of data systems, elaboration of support systems for families of migrants and returnees, and integration of national agencies into more regional and global networks. |
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