An international conference on migration and demographic security bringing together government representatives from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), central, western and southeastern Europe as well as international organizations, is taking place in the Belarus capital, Minsk, on 14-15 November.

Organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and IOM in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the conference will focus on migration management and migration policy in the CIS in the context of demographic security, as well as the effect of irregular migration on demographics.

Migration flows within the CIS region have changed and intensified since the fall of the ex-Soviet regime with member countries also witnessing ageing populations, falling birth rates and rising death rates among native populations. Although governments are devising policies to counter such trends, it will not be enough on its own to offset negative demographic forecasts.

Countries such as Russia have been particularly hit by such demographic trends while at the same time being a major destination country for regular and irregular migrants in the region. Like many industrialized countries, CIS countries are now looking at best migration practices to offset their demographic trends.

Participants at the conference will examine legislation and policies among source and destination countries as well as develop coordinated solutions to addressing critical migration issues in their countries.

For further information please contact:

Tatyana Bugaeva
IOM Minsk
Tel.: +375 17 288 27 42
E-mail: tbugaeva@iom.org.by