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Migration and humanitarian issues

Migration and humanitarian issues

Geneva holds the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Headquarters of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Secretariat of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) is also located within the city. Notably, such organizations hold direct relevance for Lithuania not only in traditionally conceived matters of migration, but also in a broader perspective, namely, IOM emigration questions.

International Organization for Migration (IOM) unites 146 Member States (including Lithuania). Currently, organization is undergoing structural, managerial and well as budgetary reforms. Since 2008 the position of General Secretary is being held by Mr. William Swing. Currently the Chairman of the IOM Council is Austrian Permanent Representative Mr. Christian Strohal.

Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNOHCR) has recently commemorated the anniversaries of the 1951 Convention on the Refugee Status and 1961 Convention on Statelessness on the 7-8 December 2011. Since 2005 the position of the High Commissioner for Refugees is being held by Mr. Antonio Guterres.

Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) – since the beginning of 2012, the chair position is held by Mauritius. Mauritian government will be organizing GFMD Head Summit meeting on 21-22 November 2012 in Port Luise.

Good Humanitarian Donorship Group (GHD) - since mid-2011 until mid-2012 the chair position is being shared between Germany and Poland. The Group aims to improve the coordination of humanitarian aid and information sharing between donor States.