Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, supports the proposal to sign the Memorandum on Cooperation between Ukraine and the International Organization for Migration.
On Thursday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met Manfred Profazi, Chief of the International Migration Organization Mission in Ukraine.
M. Profazi informed the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine about the activity of the International Organization for Migration, and work of the IOM Mission in Ukraine. In particular, he briefed about the round table discussion with the parliament members, provision of recommendations and expert reviews of legislative acts on migration policy. The Chief of the Mission informed about the forthcoming conference dedicated to the 60th anniversary of foundation of the IOM, and 15th anniversary of establishment of the IOM Mission in Ukraine. The conference on the topic "Future of Migration in Ukraine" will be held in September 2011.
V.Lytvyn highly appreciated the status and prospects of development of Ukraine´s cooperation with this influential international institution, and activity of the IOM Mission in Ukraine. Cooperation with the IOM is essential, given the status of Ukraine as a transit state. "We understand the issues of migration very well, as we have both emigrants and immigrants," he stressed.
According to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Parliament of Ukraine focuses on legislative support of migration. Thus, public authorities of Ukraine are cooperating with the IOM to counteract human trafficking.
V.Lytvyn expressed his gratitude to the organization for helping to evacuate people from the dangerous areas in Libya.
Among the pressing issues of migration, V.Lytvyn singled out maintenance of borders and simplification of visa regime for Ukrainian citizens. Along these lines, he called for observing human rights for free movement, and suggested that the IOM should help settle the respective issues.
M. Profazi suggested drafting and signing the Memorandum on Cooperation between Ukraine and the International Organization for Migration to support effective counteraction to human trafficking, harmonize the activity of the State Border Service of Ukraine and other public institutions with the best European practices on visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union, and support legal and safe labour migration.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported the idea of formalizing relations between the IOM and Ukraine in terms of legislative work. He attaches great importance to the use of intellectual, financial and organizational capacities of the organization.
The Head of the Parliament also called for holding an outreach campaign to foster human dignity and arrange appropriate life conditions.
V.Lytvyn believes that common efforts will help regulate migration flows in Ukraine in line with the international democratic standards. "A comprehensive approach to our relations will yield positive results, so this visit is the initial stage of intense fruitful work," he stressed.
For reference: Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.
With 132 member states, a further 17 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
The IOM Constitution recognizes the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement.
IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management:
- Migration and development
- Facilitating migration
- Regulating migration
- Forced migration.
The IOM Mission in Ukraine was established in 1996 in Kyiv and at the same time Ukraine became an observer state of IOM. In 2001, Ukraine requested membership in IOM and in 2002 the Ukrainian Parliament ratified this membership.