Ethiopia is participating at the 116th Session of the Council of the International Migration for Migration (IOM), being held from 8 to 10 December 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.
In his remarks, Ermias Yemanebirhan Hailemariam(PhD), State Minister of Justice, reaffirmed that migration is a central pillar of Ethiopia’s 10-Year Development Plan and national transformation agenda.
Ermias welcomed the adoption of the IOM Ethiopia Country Strategy (2025–2029) and underscored major national reforms, including the drafting of Comprehensive Migration Policy, strengthened whole-of-government coordination, expanded bilateral labour agreements, ethical recruitment measures, and enhanced skills development through TVET colleges.
Ethiopia’s intervention at the Council is followed by its earlier active participation in the African Migration Ministerial roundtable where it emphasized labour mobility as a driver of development and detailed progress in dignified returns and reintegration.
In both events, Ethiopia underlined advancements seen in border management, including the deployment of IOM’s MIDAS system and the One-Stop Border Post, and called for stronger continental and international partnerships to address irregular migration and human trafficking, reduce vulnerabilities, and support resilient, rights-based migration governance.
On the sideline of the IOM Council, Ermias held bilateral meetings with multiple delegations to discuss opportunities for potential cooperation in the field of migration.
Source:Ethiopian Permanent Mission Geneva
