Post Press Release

On November 8, 2017, IOM/the UN Migration Agency, Sub-regional Coordination office for Central Asia in partnership with the UN Assistance Center of IRD, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University organized an open lecture on «Migration Trends and Migrants’ Rights in Central Asia»  along with the screening of the PhotoStory documentary film: «Migrants: An Invisible Force in Central Asia»

More than 60 students and teachers of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty (Kazakhstan) attended an Open Lecture given by:

Tatiana Hadjiemmanuel – Head of IOM Almaty Sub-office/Deputy Sub Regional Coordinator for Central Asia;

Damira Umetbaeva - National Programme Officer of IOM Almaty, Sub-Regional Coordination office for Central Asia;

Elyor Nematov – Media/Communication specialist at IOM Almaty, Sub-Regional Coordination office for Central Asia.

Aydarbayev Sagyngali - Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, welcomed IOM staff and shared his gratitude for giving an open lecture for the student of the International Relations Department, al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

Tatiana Hadjiemmanuel first presented the history, structure, and role of IOM at the national and international levels, she then introduced the migration situation and challenges encountered in Central Asia and gave a general overview of migration trends globally.

She went on to present the 2017 Assessment “Migrant Vulnerabilities and Integration Needs in Central Asia” conducted by IOM and the brochures on Safe Migration to the Republic of Kazakhstan and to the Russian Federation. She also introduced the aims of the IOM Central Asia PhotoStory project “Migrants: An Invisible Force in Central Asia” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiK099F1P5M&t=190s

Based on IOM 2017 Assessment “Migrant Vulnerabilities and Integration Needs in Central Asia Damira held a presentation on Migrants’ Vulnerabilities in Central Asia.  The migration situation in Central Asia dramatically shifted in the past few years due to the implementation of re-entry bans in 2012 by the Russian Federation. Since 2014, Central Asian migrants have been more and more targeted by the re-entry bans which affect their migration strategies. As a result, Kazakhstan emerged as a destination country, but many migrants are left in disarray with an increase in their vulnerabilities.

“IOM has categorized migrants’ vulnerabilities into 4 factors: situational, individual, family/households, and structural factors and found out that Women and the Youth are the most vulnerable migrants. IOM has been implementing Direct Assistance Programs in Central Asia in order to help migrants and their communities to properly re-integrate in their home countries” - Damira Umetbayeva National Programme Officer of IOM Almaty Sub-Regional coordination office for Central Asia.

Elyor Nematov presented the IOM Central Asia Photostory Project “Migrants An Invisible Force in Central Asia”, which aims to raise awareness on Migrants and on their rights’ by giving voices to Central Asian citizens.  

A screening of the IOM CA photo documentary film “Migrants: An Invisible Force in Central Asia” was presented and a questions and answers session between the students and the speakers followed.

The students raised the issues of undocumented migrants’ safety, migrants’ lack of social security and protection, gaps in Central Asian migration policies, and the role of IOM in facilitating the dialogue with relevant stakeholders as well as IOM direct assistance programs.

***

For the additional information you can contact IOM Sub-regional coordination office for Central Asia at: +77272582240 (ext. 104) iomalmaty@iom.intElyor Nematov Media/Communication specialist at IOM Almaty, Sub-Regional Coordination office for Central Asia at: +77773284499 or enematov@iom.int

al-Farabi Kazakh National University official website: http://kaznu.kz/en