Representatives from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will gather in Saint Lucia on 21-22 March 2023, to tackle disaster displacement and environmental migration in the region. The workshop aims to find more effective approaches to address these challenges while centering the attention of policy makers on the complex effects on human security.
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The Caribbean has been hit by increasingly severe weather events caused by climate change, while also being seismically active and volcanic. Representatives will identify best practices to address cross border movements and work on protocols for cross-border evacuations of people affected by disasters in the OECS. The protocols will help guide governments in strategically building resilience, recognizing the conditions that threaten the survival, livelihood, and dignity of their citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, when they are forced to move.
 
The OECS' goal is to plan for the possibility of cross-border evacuations while ensuring more effective outcomes for the affected people. The human security approach goes beyond immediate responses and is prevention-oriented, analyzing the underlying causes of complex challenges and developing solutions that protect and empower the most vulnerable community members.
 
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is set to host the workshop, in partnership with the donor, the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS). Other contributing stakeholders include the UN Resident Coordinator Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Platform for Disaster Displacement (PDD) and the OECS Commission.  
 
As the region braces itself for the future effects of climate change, this workshop represents a crucial step towards safeguarding the well-being of the Eastern Caribbean's communities. The OECS' innovative and collaborative approach to addressing climate-induced displacement and environmental migration will be closely watched by experts and policymakers across the globe.

For information on the work of the IOM and its work in the Eastern Caribbean, call, text or WhatsApp (767) 275-3225 or malleyne@iom.int 

NOTE TO THE EDITOR

International Organization of Migration / IOM

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM – UN Migration) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. IOM is part of the United Nations system, as a related organization and is the premier organization supporting migrants and displaced people across the world, developing effective public sector responses to the shifting dynamics of migration.  As such, IOM is a key source of information and technical advice on migration policy and practice. The Organization works in emergency situations, developing the resilience of all people on the move, and particularly those in situations of vulnerability, as well as building capacity within governments to manage all forms and impacts of mobility. The Organization is guided by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including upholding human rights for all. Respect for the rights, dignity and well-being of migrants, and reducing inequalities between sub-groups of populations remains paramount.
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