IMO launches migrant intel portal

New platform to assist monitoring.

New platform set to improve information sharing on migrant smuggling by sea

A new inter-agency platform for information sharing on migrant smuggling by sea has been launched today (6 July) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in order to better understand unsafe mixed migration by sea.

It is anticipated that the platform will assist in improved monitoring of incidents associated with unsafe and irregular mixed migration by sea, on a global basis, with a view to better analysis of trends.

The IMO/IOM/UNODC platform will include a joint database on migrant incidents and on suspected smugglers and vessels. A revised reporting format for States, international organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations to submit information to the database was recently agreed at IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 95).

The joint information sharing platform was initiated following the Inter-agency High-level Meeting to Address Unsafe Mixed Migration in March, which was held at IMO Headquarters, London with the aim of aim of facilitating dialogue and promoting enhanced cooperation and harmonization between United Nations agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, Governments and the shipping industry. That meeting agreed on the need for timely and accurate information on migrant incidents and on suspected smugglers and vessels.

The joint platform is hosted on IMO’s Global Integrated shipping Information System (GISIS) and will include publicly accessible data (via https://gisis.imo.org/Public/MIGRANT/Incidents.aspx ) and restricted access information for Member States.

Source: imo.org