When and for what purpose was IOM established?

IOM was established in 1951 as an intergovernmental organization to resettle displaced persons, refugees, and migrants in Europe after the Second World War.

Originally set up on the initiative of the United States and Belgian Governments, the scale of migration challenges faced by the world and the growing scope and importance of IOM's work soon led the Organization to its current position as the leading international organization working with migrants and governments to provide humane responses to migration challenges.

In 1960 IOM had directly assisted one million migrants; a number which grew to 12 million in 2003 – reflecting the expansion of IOM's activities in the field of migration. At present, IOM has 118 member states and more than 290 offices around the world.

How has the role of IOM changed over the decades?

IOM was originally established to resettle displaced persons, refugees, and migrants in Europe who were dislocated and dispossessed after years of war. Based on these beginnings, the voluntary return, resettlement, and evacuation of migrants and other 'movement-related' aspects of migration management have remained central to IOM's activities over the decades.

However, in the post-war decades as the international community has sought responses to wide-ranging migration challenges, from the spread of infectious diseases to the scourge of human trafficking, IOM has increasingly been called on by governments and the international community at large to provide effective and multi-faceted responses to challenges related to migration and its management.

In effect, this has meant that IOM's mandate has expanded substantially since it was established and it is now tasked by its Member States to assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management, advance understanding of migration issues, encourage social and economic development through migration, and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.

IOM's activities and operations have reflected, and continue to reflect, changes in the migration environment. As migration flows change, IOM, based on decades of expertise, is able to effectively tailor its responses.

With offices and operations on every continent, IOM helps governments, its other partners in the international community, and civil society through: