International Organization for Migration

The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental body associated with the United Nations and dedicated to managing and supporting migration across the world. Based in Geneva, it assists states and migrants through a wide range of operational, humanitarian and policy-based activities. Its work spans displacement caused by conflict, natural disasters and economic hardship, and includes support for internally displaced persons, refugees and migrant workers. The organisation’s leadership is headed by a Director General elected for a five-year term, with Amy E. Pope currently serving in this role.

Historical Context and Institutional Evolution

The organisation was founded in 1951 against the backdrop of extensive post-war displacement in Europe. Millions of people had been uprooted by the Second World War, creating an urgent need for a coordinated mechanism to support migration processes. The early institution functioned primarily as a logistics agency responsible for transporting nearly one million migrants during the 1950s.
Its development is marked by successive name and mandate changes. The Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants from Europe, created in 1951, became the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration in 1952. As the organisation expanded beyond Europe, it adopted the name Intergovernmental Committee for Migration in 1980. Finally, in 1989 it became the International Organization for Migration, reflecting its global remit and growing presence in migration governance.
In the decades that followed, the body responded to numerous humanitarian crises, including conflicts in Kosovo and East Timor, major earthquakes in Asia and the Caribbean and the European migrant emergency. Throughout this period its guiding principle remained the belief that humane and orderly migration benefits both migrants and states.

Integration into the United Nations System

In 1992 the organisation was granted observer status at the United Nations General Assembly. A major milestone occurred in 2016 when all UN member states endorsed a resolution making the organisation a related agency of the UN system. This strengthened collaboration enabled closer alignment with UN humanitarian frameworks and more coherent responses to migration challenges.
The organisation played a significant role in the creation of the Global Compact for Migration, the first intergovernmental agreement to address migration comprehensively. Adopted in Marrakech in 2018, the Compact outlines principles for better governance of migration and enhanced support for migrants. To oversee its implementation, the United Nations Network on Migration was established in 2019, with the organisation coordinating its work alongside agencies such as the World Food Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Structure, Membership and Leadership

The organisation’s headquarters in Geneva are supported by liaison offices in New York City and Addis Ababa, while its Global Migration Data Analysis Centre operates from Berlin. With over fifteen thousand employees from more than 160 nationalities, it maintains one of the most diverse staffing profiles within the international system.
The council, which includes representatives from all member states, is the highest decision-making body. It meets periodically to approve budgets, establish priorities and review operational activities. English, French and Spanish serve as the official languages. The organisation reports a budget funded largely through voluntary contributions and donations, reflecting its project-driven operational model.
Membership has expanded consistently, and by 2023 it included 175 member states and eight observer states. Leadership consists of a Director General and two Deputy Directors General, who oversee programming, strategic planning and partnerships.

Mandate and Operational Activities

The organisation’s broad mandate encompasses support for migrant workers, refugees and internally displaced persons. Its flexibility allows it to operate effectively during crises, and it often partners with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees when mandates overlap, particularly during major displacement scenarios.
In humanitarian settings the organisation is involved in shelter provision, protection services, medical and sanitary assistance, logistics, telecommunications and the coordination of camp management. Under the cluster system of humanitarian response, it shares responsibility for camp coordination and management with UNHCR at the request of the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Beyond emergency response, the organisation operates in stabilisation, peacebuilding and development, recognising migration’s role in shaping long-term social and economic outcomes. It undertakes work in reconstruction, community cohesion, voluntary return and reintegration, and supports states in developing migration policies.

Member States and Global Engagement

Membership is global, encompassing countries from every region. The organisation maintains dialogue platforms across continents and works closely with regional and international bodies. It engages in data collection and analysis, assists states in managing migration pathways and collaborates with partners to address migration drivers and strengthen resilience in affected communities.

Criticism and Debates

Despite its wide mandate and operational reach, the organisation has faced criticism from advocacy groups, scholars and journalists.
One notable episode occurred in 2003 when Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch raised concerns regarding the organisation’s role in offshore asylum processing arrangements funded by the Australian government. They argued that by operating centres in locations such as Manus Island and Nauru, the organisation risked enabling arbitrary detention and limiting access to legal protection.
Further criticism resurfaced in 2022 concerning housing conditions for refugees in Indonesia. Reports described the shelters as overcrowded and unsafe, with inadequate access to basic services. Critics argued that the organisation’s involvement provided a humanitarian appearance while facilitating restrictive migration policies adopted by wealthier states.
The organisation has also been criticised for its inability to adequately intervene in certain refugee protection cases, such as those involving Uyghur populations.
Debates extend to broader structural issues, including accountability in protection, the role of international organisations in border control and the consequences of partnerships with states pursuing restrictive migration agendas. Scholars of migration governance have questioned the balance between operational effectiveness and safeguarding rights-based principles within complex political environments.

Institutional Role in Contemporary Migration Governance

The International Organization for Migration occupies a central position in global migration management. It provides operational capacity during crises, serves as a policy advisor to states and contributes to international dialogue on migration. As mobility increases and displacement becomes more frequent due to conflict, climate pressures and economic instability, its role continues to expand.
Through its support for the Global Compact for Migration and its coordination of the UN Network on Migration, the organisation contributes to shaping a shared international approach to migration. While debates around its mandate, accountability and partnerships persist, it remains a leading actor in assisting migrants and strengthening the capacity of states to manage population movement in humane and orderly ways.