Publication date: 05 October 2010
IOM-study: Migration between Russia and the European Union - Policy Implications from a Small-Scale Study of Irregular Migrants
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Main theme: Migration, Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Study
Keywords: IOM, Russia
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From 3 to 7 November 2025, the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) conducted an evaluation visit to Belgium under the fourth cycle of its monitoring of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The evaluation focuses on vulnerabilities to trafficking, the measures taken to prevent and detect them, support victims, and sanction perpetrators, with particular attention to the role of information and communication technologies.
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At the occasion of the publication of the 49th edition of the International Migration Outlook, the OECD organised a launch event including a press conference and a high-level panel discussion. Discussions revolved around the key findings of the report and the future outlook of migration in the EU.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: international migration trend
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Over 70 specialists from 26 countries took part in a Europol-supported hackathon aimed at detecting online activities linked to human trafficking. The operation, led by the Netherlands with the support of Germany and the United Kingdom, identified over 30 potential victims and more than 30 suspected perpetrators. The Belgian authorities also took part in this fourth edition of the EMPACT Trafficking in Human Beings Hackathon, which targeted both sexual and labour exploitation online.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: EMPACT, hackathon, trafficking victim, sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, online
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The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe examined the execution of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in Camara v. Belgium. The case highlighted a systemic failure to enforce judicial decisions ordering the State to provide accommodation and material support to asylum-seekers. While some progress has been made in freeing up reception places and improving operational support, concerns persist over reductions in capacity and the risk to the rule of law. The Committee urged the Belgian authorities to adopt sustainable measures and provide detailed information on enforcement.
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Main theme: Reception
Keywords: reception crisis, Camara, reception place, rule of law, reception network
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The “Blue Heart” is recognised as the international symbol of the fight against human trafficking. On 28 July 2025, the Blue Heart Campaign was launched at Leuven City Hall. EMN Belgium joined local authorities, the three specialised centres for victims of human trafficking, Myria, the UNODC and many other stakeholders on this occasion. The theme of this year is “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation”.
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According to new data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 8.938 persons have died or gone missing on migration routes in 2024, marking the deadliest year on record. This continues a five-year trend of increasing fatalities, surpassing the previous high of 8.747 deaths recorded in 2023.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: Missing Migrants Project, migrant death
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In a coordinated effort to combat human trafficking, Europol hosted an international operational action from 25 to 28 February 2025, bringing together experts in analysis, OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), and investigations from 12 countries, including Belgium. The operation focused on detecting and disrupting human trafficking networks operating online, particularly those exploiting Ukrainian nationals.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: sexual exploitation, Ukrainian, trafficker, victim of trafficking, digital technology
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The latest International Migration Outlook 2024 includes a special focus on immigrant entrepreneurship. It highlights that migrants represent a growing share of total entrepreneurs in OECD countries. In 2022, 17% of the self-employed in OECD countries on average were migrants, up from 11% in 2006.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: migrant entrepreneurship, self-employment, job creation
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On 5 September 2024, the UN Refugee Agency was awarded the "Fair Play for Peace Award" for its ongoing work to improve the lives of refugees, displaced and stateless persons through sport, in particular following the launch of the Agency's "More than a Game" sport strategy which promotes sport as a powerful vehicle for peace, inclusion and social cohesion.
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Main theme: Integration
Keywords: sport, empowerment, peace
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Cindy Ngamba, a 25-year-old Cameroonian refugee living in the United Kingdom, won the bronze medal in the boxing discipline at the Paris Olympics. She is the first athlete in any sport to secure a medal while representing the refugee team.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: Olympic Games, boxing, refugee olympic team
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An IOM-Harvard report shows that close to half of the child victims of trafficking were being trafficked for forced labour (mainly boys), in a wide range of industries, such as domestic work, begging and agriculture. Sexual exploitation, including through prostitution, pornography, and sexual servitude, is also prominent, affecting 20 per cent of trafficked children, predominantly girls.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: child trafficking, vulnerability, forced labour, sexual exploitation
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According to data collected by IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, 2023, with at least 8565 deaths and disappearances, is the deadliest year since the project's inception in 2014. IOM highlights the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: migration route, migrant death, Mediterranean
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In a press release published today, the UN Refugee Agency called on Belgium and Hungary to use their 2024 European Union (EU) Presidencies as an opportunity to finalize the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and to ensure its protection-sensitive implementation.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Hungarian Presidency, Council of the European Union
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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) looks forward to cooperating with the Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies of the Council of the European Union and stands ready to offer its continued support and expertise. With a view to building this partnership, the IOM publishes some recommendations on migration and mobility for 2024.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: Belgian Presidency, Hungarian Presidency, Council of the European Union, recommendation
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This virtual event is part of the OECD COP28 Virtual Pavilion, which runs from 23 November to 12 December 2023. The pavilion presents key OECD contributions with insights to drive ambitious and globally effective action on climate change.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: forced displacement, climate change
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The World Health Organization has published its first-ever global research agenda on health, migration and displacement to guide research efforts to understand and address the health needs of migrants, refugees, and all forcibly displaced populations and shape responsive policies and practices worldwide.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: health, health emergency, migrant health
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The 2023 Innovation Awards were awarded at the IOM Global Chiefs of Missions Meeting (GCOMM) in Istanbul on 25 October 2023. In the category "Regular Pathways", Displaced Talent for Europe (DT4E), which facilitates skilled migration for displaced talent to respond to labour market shortages, was acknowledged as the changemaker.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: regular pathway, skilled migrants, displaced person, labour market shortage
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The International Migration Outlook 2023, published today by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), highlights inter alia that permanent-type migration to OECD countries increased by 26% in 2022 compared with 2021. In Belgium and in many OECD countries, permanent-type migration was higher in 2022 than in any of the previous 15 years.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: international migration trend, labour market integration, permanent migration
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The European Migration Network (EMN) Belgium was at the European Parliament today for a presentation on “The Power of Labour Mobility Pilot Projects to Support the EU Legal Migration Reform”, organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour mobility, pilot project, Migration Partnership Facility
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The Global Refugee Forum 2023 will be the opportunity to build on the progress made by States and stakeholders towards the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and of pledges and initiatives announced since the first Forum in 2019.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: global compact on refugees
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The Fair Recruitment Initiative (FRI) was launched in 2014 as part of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Director General’s call for a Fair Migration Agenda. Since its launch, the FRI has been critical to ILO’s work in the area of national and international recruitment of workers.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: migrant worker, fair recruitment, fair migration agenda
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The UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022 was published today. It shows inter alia that climate change increases vulnerability to trafficking and that armed conflicts are another breeding ground for trafficking.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking
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The EU could see an influx of up to four million more Ukrainians in 2023, and Russia will seek to further weaponize migration from North Africa and the Middle East. These are just two of the forecasts made in the latest Migration Outlook report 2023 from the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
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This Innovation Challenge will support studies focused on the effectiveness of new solutions (interventions, data/tools, policy actions) which improve cross-border labor mobility and labor market integration of international migrants and refugees. Interested participants must submit their Expression of Interest by 31 January 2023.