INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION OFFICE IN GREECE

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1 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION OFFICE IN GREECE

2 IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society As the leading international organization for migration, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: Assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management Advance understanding of migration issues Encourage social and economic development through migration Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants

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4 IOM PRESENCE AROUND THE WORLD

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6 Land Sea Air Istanbul/Turkey Main Routes of Irregular Migration to Greece (from Africa and Asia)

7 Irregular Migrants Entry Points

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9 First Period: IOM assisted over Greek national emigrants leave Greece and settle in the USA, Canada, Australia and other overseas countries Second Period: s During this period Greece became a transit country for asylum seekers coming from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa IOM organized and implemented the resettlement of foreign migrants and refugees, mainly to USA, Canada, Australia and N. Zealand Third Period: 1990 Present Greece became a country of destination for immigrants coming mainly from Central and Eastern Europe, with large number of Albanians following soon. From 2007 to present: Increasing number of mixed migration flows crossing irregularly through the blue and green borders of Greece Since 2010, IOM Greece is implementing projects of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration

10 Since 2010, IOM implements projects of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration: Projects of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration funded by the European Return Fund (75% European Funds & 25 % National Funds) Projects of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration funded by the European Return Fund funded by the European Economic Area Projects of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration funded by the Government of United Kingdom Since 2010, IOM Greece has assisted more than third country national to return with safety and dignity to their country of origin.

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14 Addressing the needs of Unaccompanied Minors : The purpose of the project the provision of return and reintegration assistance to 350 unaccompanied minors and vulnerable migrants. Funded by the European Emergency Fund (90%) and EU member states (10%- Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark and UK) Open Centre for Migrants registered for Assisted Voluntary Return & Reintegration: The purpose of the project is to provide accommodation to migrants (often vulnerable groups) registered to return under the AVRR Programs and they have no place to stay until their departure, because they are either destitute or they reside outside Athens in other cities. Co-Financing: European Return Fund (90%) / Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection (10%) Supporting Organizations that Assist Migrants Asylum Seeking Population in Greece: IOM Greece acts as the fund operator and supervises the implementation of NGO projects that address the needs of the asylum seeking population, especially unaccompanied minors. The goal of this program is to encourage cooperation between government authorities and civil society and to increase the number of placements for asylum seekers in Greece. Funded by the EEA Grants

15 IOM Greece has an increased number of Regional staff at the main entry and exit points Information & Registration Officers are being located in 9 regions in Greece (Alexandroupoli- Thessaloniki (2 staff)- Orestiada-Ioannina-Lesvos(2 staff)- Drama-Samos-Crete-Patra ) Information Officers are responsible for the provision of information AVRR information to free irregular migrants, migrants who have been administratively detained in detention centres and police stations in the region and to proceed with the necessary arrangements for the safe and dignified return of third-country nationals to their country of origin. *The IOM staff in Thessaloniki and both of the staff in Lesvos are under the AVRR project funded by the UK Government

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17 IOM takes a holistic approach to trafficking in persons (THB) within the wider context of managing migration. IOM's wide range of activities are implemented in partnership with governmental institutions, NGOs and international organizations. IOM Greece is the coordinating agency of a counter-trafficking national network, together with 8 competent Ministries and 12 relevant NGOs. IOM Greece currently depends on private donor funds and occasional fundraising in order to assist VoT wishing to return home. Special funding has been provided from the UK Government and the EEA Grants for VoT that are EU citizens (Bulgarians and Romanians) as they are 2nd not 3rd country nationals to return to their country of origin.

18 Prevention: sensitization campaigns to raise public awareness, production and distribution of leaflets and posters throughout Greece and in all Greek ports of entry Protection: Voluntary Return of VoT to their home countries in cooperation with counterpart IOM offices in countries of return; assistance to Embassies in finding shelters for VoT, acting on information from IOM other IOM offices, cooperation with police in locating potential victims trapped in Greece by traffickers, Capacity Building: Police authorities Judicial authorities Governmental and non-governmental agencies( directorates of Ministries, municipalities, NGOs etc) Building and reinforcing network between government and civil society & crossborder cooperation Study visits to bring together government actors from origin & source countries

19 THANK YOU IOM IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT HUMANE AND ORDERLY MIGRATION BENEFITS MIGRANTS AND SOCIETY.