Who We Are

The IOM Regional Office for the Americas was established in 2024 and is based in Panama. Previously, it operated as two independent units: (a) the Regional Office for South America and (b) the Regional Office for Central America, North America, and the Caribbean.

Throughout the region, the IOM offers a comprehensive response to humanitarian needs, providing protection and assistance to migrants in each country. It promotes and fosters the contributions of migration to both host and origin societies.

Additionally, the IOM addresses and monitors displacement and migration resulting from environmental factors and climate change, assisting in migration and border management in line with human rights and other guiding international frameworks such as the Global Compact for Migration.

IOM Global

The IOM, established in 1951, is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration, working closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners.

With 175 member states, 8 observer states, and offices in over 100 countries, the IOM is committed to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. In this endeavor, it provides services and advice to governments and migrants.

The work of the IOM includes ensuring the orderly and humane management of migration; promoting international cooperation on migration issues; finding practical solutions to migration problems; and providing humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, whether they are refugees, displaced persons, or uprooted individuals.

The IOM Constitution explicitly recognizes the link between migration and economic, social, and cultural development, as well as respect for the right to freedom of movement.

The IOM works closely with its governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. It operates in four broad areas of migration management:

• Migration and development
• Facilitated migration
• Regulated migration
• Forced migration

IOM activities in these areas include promoting international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protecting migrant rights, migration health, and addressing the gender dimension of migration.