• My Home Page
• My Bio
• Family Object
• Agency Report
  
• Nogales Report
  
• Country Poster
• City Migrants
• Crossing the Valley
• Open Letter

Migrant Agency Report

In these brief reports, students respond to questions about the migration perspectives of an assigned im/migrant agency or organization, based on their Internet research. These annotations will compile a resource list to serve as a guide for the class and others concerned with im/migration issues.

A.    Title of agency or organization? 

International Agency for Study of Forced Migration

B.     Where is home base (city/state/country)?

Refugee Studies Centre, Queen Elizabeth House, 21 St Giles, Oxford, England

C.     Date founded?

1994

D.    Names of key spokespersons/officers 

President: Dr Joanne van Selm, USA

Vice President/Treasurer: Dr Khalid Koser, UK

Secretary: Dr Renu Modi, India

E.     What/who is key constituency or audience?

University Scholars and practitioners

F.      What are the agency’s main activities?

Its primary mandate is to organize International Conferences on Forced Migration.  In addition to sponsoring formal meetings, the Association also wants to establish and strengthen international and interactive networks of scholars and practitioners who are involved in the global issues of forced migration.

G.    Mission statement? (you may quote mission statement if available; use quotation marks)

“IASFM brings together academics, practitioners and decision-makers working on forced migration issues. Through the ages, the forced movement of people, displaced within their own countries or across borders, has been of concern to states and to humanitarians alike. Whether people have been forced to migrate due to persecution, to flee war, to escape famine, or because of a major development project, they face a need for protection and/or assistance. Since the end of the Cold War this issue has seen renewed attention. The problems seem ever greater: the solutions ever more scarce. The issue is increasingly perceived to be global in scope, while some solutions may be very local. By coming together, scholars, policy-makers, NGO advocates and those working in the field can think together and develop greater understanding of the implications of forced movement.”

H.    What are the key im/migration issues of concern to this agency?

Understanding forced migration and about improving the formulation of policies and administration of programs dealing with refugees and other displaced persons

I.       What appears to be the most common informational basis for statements issued, press releases, reports, etc.?

Annual conferences held all over the world

J.       Any publications? (what types, sample titles; if online, give links)

Journal of Refugee Studies, International Journal of Refugee Law and the Refugee Survey Quarterly. All of these journals are published by Oxford University Press. (http://jrs.oupjournals.org/)

K.   Is the agency noticeably pro or con immigration? (you may need to determine this from readings its position papers, press releases, news reports, etc)

Pro

L.    Web site? Give URL

http://www.iasfm.org/pages/1/index.htm

 MM 05/11/05