Agencies agree to help migrants

 By TED WIKA KALEO

Papua New Guinea Customs and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have agreed to work together to ensure humane and orderly migration to encourage the expansion of social and economic development.

They signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ensure cooperation and to facilitate information sharing on human trafficking issues in the country.

IOM chief of mission George Gigauri said human rights and migration issues were prevalent in the country and needed particular attention.  

He said the MoU was a vital link for cooperation in implementing programmes and activities of mutual interest.

“IOM cannot operate in isolation. To address issues and needs facing countries through programme interventions, we need the government’s support.

“In this instance, IOM is implementing projects on border management and human trafficking and smuggling which directly is of interest to PNG Custom’s mandate.

“This MoU will enhance the work of both organisations in terms of initiating needs-based legislative and policy initiatives, capacity-building and resource-sharing,” Gigauri said.

He said it was through such relationships that real issues facing people were addressed.

PNG Customs Commissioner Ray Paul said the MoU would enable the two organisations to conduct training and capacity-building to deal with migration issues as well.

“PNG Customs is conscious of the human rights and wellbeing of the people. We will work closely with IOM to ensure migrants are accorded their rights when dealing with them.

“One challenge is to have mutual cooperation with other agencies to observe human rights and wellbeing of the migrants,” he added.