6 March 2012

Agreement of Cooperation between the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights was signed in Kyiv today by IOM Ukraine?s Chief of Mission Manfred Profazi and the Ombudsman Nina Karpachova.

The Agreement is intended to consolidate efforts on the protection of human rights and freedoms of migrants and countering xenophobia, ethnic and racial intolerance, inter alia within the framework of preparation for the UEFA EURO 2012.

The areas of cooperation between IOM and the Ukrainian Ombudsman include development of joint proposals and recommendations with regard to draft laws and other regulations, state programmes and action plans, ratification of international treaties, etc.

?IOM highly appreciates the ongoing efforts of the Ukrainian Ombudsman with regard to protection of migrants and is happy to provide assistance in this important area. Many Ukrainians are living and working abroad, for the same reasons as migrants are living and working in Ukraine. A spirit of fellowship and understanding is the key to making sure that all migrants live without fear and enjoy access to universal human rights,? stated IOM Ukraine?s Chief of Mission Manfred Profazi.

Referring to the importance of cooperation with IOM, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Nina Karpachova underlined that ?IOM was established for making sure that no person can be treated or considered as illegal, that human rights have no borders and no double standards should be applied to migrants.?