There are 232 million migrants (3.2 percent of global population) worldwide, with their numbers growing steadily. If they congregated in a single state, it would be the fifth most populous in the world. In 2000, the general assembly of the United Nations made December 18 the International Day of Migrants.
“It is necessary to make all steps to secure the protection of all migrants and offer them help – be it during their journey or after arriving at their new destination,” said Zuzana Vatráľová, head of the Office of International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Slovakia.
In 2013, Migrant Information Centre branches in Bratislava and Košice handled 1,887 migrants from more than 90 countries, according to the IOM.
Migrants were also offered days of specialised consultancy, the so-called one-stop shop, to receive complex advisory in one place directly by experts from several institutions.
(Source: press release)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
