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16 October 2024

IOM and the Federal Government of Germany Celebrate 70 Years of Fruitful Partnership

German emigrants board an ICEM chartered flight to the United States in 1957. Cooperation between Germany and IOM dates to 1951, when Germany was one of the founding signatories of the Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants from Europe (PICMME), later renamed the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM). Germany ratified the ICEM constitution in 1954 and thus became a formal member.  It was not until 1989 that IOM adopted its current name to better reflect its mandate and objectives.  © IOM 

Virtual Counselling, a flagship project by IOM, was launched in Germany in 2019. Funded by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, it offers migrants virtual return and reintegration counselling from IOM staff globally. Available in 23 countries, it empowers migrants to return with dignity by providing information in their native language. © IOM / Amanda Nero 

“Before, frequent floods often destroyed my crops. This year, thanks to the wall, our wheat production has increased significantly,” said Gul, a 70-year-old community member in Herat, Afghanistan. Severe flooding forced her to seek refuge in nearby villages like Karez Naw. Today, she feels safe staying in her own home thanks to the flood protection wall built by IOM, funded by the KFW German Development Bank and Japan. © IOM / Mohammad Osman Azizi

Resettlement is a journey of hope and resilience. It's about embracing a future filled with possibilities. In Germany, IOM works with the Federal Government, Federal States, UNHCR, and other partners to provide solutions for refugees and migrants. This includes offering activities that emphasize protection throughout the resettlement process and Humanitarian Admission programmes. Since 2021, IOM Germany supported over 6,411 migrants through Resettlement programme and over 8,614 through Humanitarian admission programmes. © IOM 

With German support, IOM conducted slope stabilization work under site development intervention in the world’s largest refugee settlement, Rohingya refugee camps, in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. © IOM  

Berlin/Geneva, 16 October. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Federal Republic of Germany proudly mark 70 years of partnership in supporting safe, orderly and regular migration. 

Since the opening of the IOM office in Germany in 1954, this collaboration has been critical to addressing migration challenges globally while fostering positive change for both migrants and communities alike. 

IOM leadership and Federal Government representatives met today in Geneva for an annual strategic dialogue and emphasized the importance of their ongoing cooperation.

Reflecting on this shared history, IOM Director-General Amy Pope, emphasized the importance of the enduring partnership: “Germany has been a key partner of IOM over the past 70 years. Our partnership continues to be an exemplary model of how migration, when well-managed, can benefit all. With continued support from the government of Germany, IOM will continue to save lives and protect people on the move, drive solutions to displacement and facilitate pathways for safe, orderly and regular migration.”

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser: "Many challenges in migration policy can only be solved internationally. International organizations such as the IOM play a crucial role here. That is why Germany has been working closely with the IOM for many years. The current IOM Council Chair, the German ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Katharina Stasch, is a testament to Germany's commitment. I would like to thank the IOM for the good and trusting cooperation, for example in the area of resettlement and humanitarian admissions, as well as in the area of voluntary return and reintegration."

Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN and other international organizations, Chair of the IOM Council Bureau Dr. Katharina Stasch: "Germany is proud to have been an engaged partner of the International Organization for Migration for 70 years. In my role as Chair of the IOM Council Bureau, I have focused particularly on issues of climate, empowering women and girls, and fostering closer collaboration between UN organizations. Germany is not only one of IOM’s largest financial partners but is also deeply involved in substantive contributions. As a major host and donor country, we are in a unique position to build bridges and contribute to solving global challenges."

To mark this landmark occasion, IOM Germany organized a commemorative photo exhibition in Geneva, showcasing seven decades of impactful work and collaboration. Through a series of captivating images, the exhibition brings to life the shared history between IOM and Germany, while also emphasizing the ongoing importance of humanitarian work in addressing today’s migration challenges. 

The photographs featured in the exhibition are also available online:

https://germany.iom.int/germany-and-iom-celebrate-70-years-partnership 

Notes to editors:
IOM has been operating in the Federal Republic of Germany since 1954 under an agreement with the Federal Government, supporting and ensuring safe, orderly and regular migration. Today, IOM Germany continues to serve people on the move and support migrants in key areas such as protection, psychosocial support, counselling, return and reintegration, resettlement and humanitarian admission, family reunification, labour mobility and social inclusion, and crisis response. The Berlin office is also the liaison office to the Federal Government of Germany for international cooperation and IOM projects around the globe in the fields of humanitarian aid, crisis prevention, stabilization, peacebuilding and development. 

For media inquiries, please contact:
IOM: Srdjan Tošić, stosic@iom.int, media-de@iom.int

Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN and other international organizations: Franziska Lang, pr-1-io@genf.auswaertiges-amt.de