Marie-Louise Overvad, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva and the Director General of IOM, Brunson McKinley, have signed an agreement on July 13, 2006, granting IOM privileges and immunities in Denmark.

For many years now IOM enjoys a very successful cooperation with Denmark. The organization has carried out numerous projects supported by the Kingdom in Denmark and around the world in a variety of fields, e.g., the Out-of-Country voting for Iraqis living abroad, assisted voluntary return programmes to Iraq and Afghanistan, etc. At present IOM in cooperation with Denmark implements, amongst others, a programme against human trafficking in Eastern and South Eastern Europe, resettlement assistance and pre-departure health assessments around the world and a technical cooperation pilot programme on irregular and transit migration between Maghreb, West African and Europe. “Denmark is a very important partner for IOM and among the most active member states of the organization”, states Dr. Thomas Weiss, Regional Representative of IOM.

IOM and other international organizations are granted immunities and privileges in many countries to support and facilitate their work. Privileges and immunities comprise, inter alia, immunity from jurisdiction, inviolability of premises and archives, currency and fiscal privileges as well as immunity from taxation on salaries and emoluments paid by the organization.

“This agreement will surely help to further cooperation between Denmark and IOM on topics of mutual interest. Moreover, it will strengthen IOM’s position in the Nordic countries”, believes Dr. Weiss.

For more information, please contact Dr. Thomas Weiss, Regional Representative, MRF Helsinki, tweiss@iom.int, +358-50-9-684 11 50.