"Things are changing and we are not continuing working as usual,” – insisted the IOM’s Deputy Director General Laura Thompson at her meeting in Hanoi with the programme team of the IOM Mission in Vietnam as part of her official 4-day-visit to Vietnam.

Addressing the meeting, Ms. Laura Thompson stressed the growing role of IOM which shall provide for the key strategic developments including the integration into the UN system, recent changes in the internal leadership and especially the upcoming advent of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM). The inauguration of GCM is specifically emphasized as it is expected to be the first internationally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the UN to cover all dimensions of international migration. To bring the GCM’s 23 objectives into practice, IOM is expected to be a major coordinator in an extensive network of governments and international organisations. The DDG, therefore, appealed to the Mission for not just upholding its ongoing commitments but also strengthening the cooperation with other UN agencies and government partners.

In addition to the talk with the IOM Vietnam at Hanoi UN House, from 11 to 14 November, Ms. Laura Thompson had meetings with the senior representatives from the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and Vietnam Women Union. She also paid visits to IOM Vietnam’s branch offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city including the Programme Department, Canada visa application centre (CVAC) and Health Assessment Programme (HAP).