UNAG continues working in migration field

The United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG) is the partner organization of the International Organization of Migration (IOM) in the implementation of NGO Migration Sector Development Program (NGO MSDP) since December 1999. Resource Center was established in UNAG with the purpose of fulfilling program and developing migration sector's NGOs.

Importance of migration related problems in Georgia and the entire region necessitated creation of Resource Center. Priorities in the year 2000 were trafficking/irregular migration and migrant health issues.

Trafficking in persons is one of the most important issues throughout the world. Number of victims of trafficking amounts to millions. Criminal organizations are actively involved in this business gaining abnormal profit from trafficking in persons, especially in women. Trafficking has become a problem for Georgia as well. Trafficking in women turn out to be well known in our country in recent decade.

Taking into consideration the importance of the issue, UNAG launched cooperation with IOM with the aim of working on this problem. Increase of public awareness in trafficking problems has been the main field of work of the Recourse Center. Despite importance of trafficking problem, society is poorly informed on the issue.

UNAG actively has commenced work in the field of trafficking. Central role was given to "Small Projects Fund" program. Four projects on trafficking/irregular migration and migrants health were supported under its aegis. The purpose of the program was to increase capacities of local NGOs.

UNAG have been cooperating closely with IOM's partner organizations in Armenia and Azerbaijan with the aim of developing south Caucasus migration network. UNAG had organized meeting of south Caucasus migration sector NGOs in Tbilisi. Its purpose was to develop regional cooperation in migration field.