ICAO, IOM, partner on global mobility, traveller identity management

NAN-H-60
Cooperation
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance global mobility and traveller identity management.
A statement by ICAO’s spokesman, Anthony Philbin, on Wednesday, said the agreement would aid the two agencies’ efforts to respond to new and emerging challenges in a coordinated way.
Dr Fang Liu, ICAO’s Secretary General, said that the new agreement would serve to raise awareness on the close connection between aviation, migratory movements, and border management and facilitation.
Liu said the MoU was consistent with ICAO’s responsibility to promote safe and orderly development of international civil aviation, including the adoption of international standards for customs and immigration documents and procedures.
“The new agreement will aid the efforts to respond in a coordinated way to new and emerging challenges such as security requirements, accessibility to safe transport modes for migrants and refugees.
“It will also address the challenges of increased international cross-border mobility, health challenges linked to international mobility, as well as security and facilitation in global air travel,’’ he said.
William Swing, Director-General of IOM, said that the management of borders, travel facilitation and security, travel document security and identity management were of great importance for all international travellers.
Swing said that considering the number of migrants and refugees that cross international borders, strengthened close cooperation between ICAO and IOM was a much welcome step.
“The IOM will henceforth participate as an observer in ICAO’s Technical Advisory Group on the Traveller Identification Programme (TAG/TRIP), as a member of the ICAO TRIP Implementation and Capacity Building Working Group (ICBWG).
“It will also participate in New Technologies Working Group (NTWG), as well as on any new ICAO deliberative bodies relevant to its mandate.
“Cooperation will also be intensified toward enhanced support to states regarding travel documents and related border and identity management challenges, harmonizing passenger data exchange programmes and in promoting data-driven security.
“The agreement will also ensure more integrated identity and border management programmes, the mobility of migrants, resettlement of refugees as well as voluntary returns via air.
“It will also provide support to both stateless and other persons, travel health assistance, pandemic management and other travel health related emergencies,’’ he said. (NAN)
OYS/BOLA/WOJ
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(Edited by Bola Akingbehin / Wale Ojetimi)