Ankara – Turkey, host to almost four million refugees and migrants, has established a dedicated United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM). The initiative flows from the 2018 Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the first cooperative framework addressing international migration.

As GCM convenor, IOM hosted a gathering in the Turkish capital Ankara yesterday (18/02), which brought together United Nations representatives to formally bring the country's UNNM into being.

 “This is an exciting moment for Turkey,” said, Lado Gvilava, Chief of IOM's Mission in Turkey.

“Never before have we had a dedicated body to ensure migration issues are integrated into development work in a coordinated way. We hope that the UNNM in Turkey will help see through improvements in the way migration is managed, ultimately fostering greater harmony between migrant- and host communities.”

The Network will carry forward commitments to support programmes that improve the wellbeing of migrant communities.

The country's approach towards managing migration - namely through the creation of a dedicated Directorate General for Migration Management (DGMM) in 2013 - has been hailed as a shining example for other members states. The UNNM will now work with DGMM to integrate the GCM objectives into government policies and programmes.

“The formation of the UNNM in Turkey is an opportunity for the UN to strengthen the existing migration management system in Turkey in a coordinated and strategic way. The GCM provides us with a roadmap to making migration work for the benefit of all,” said Alvaro Rodriguez, the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkey.

For more information please contact Lanna Walsh, Tel: 90 533 698 72 85, Email: lwalsh@iom.int or Florence Kim, Tel:  +4179 748 0395, Email: fkim@iom.int.