IOM hails Morocco's 'humanist' policy on immigration

Rabat, Oct 20 (IANS/MAP) The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has hailed Morocco's "humanist and exemplary policy at the regional and continental levels" on migration and asylum at a meeting in Skhirat town.

"I congratulate the Kingdom of Morocco for this humanist and exemplary policy on a regional and continental scale," said William Lacy Swing at a meeting organised to mark the fourth anniversary of the launching of Morocco's national immigration and asylum policy.

The Moroccan policy is a "pioneering experiment in the region" and shows the willingness to respect migrants' rights", Swing noted, expressing IOM's support for the government and non-governmental actors to integrate migration into key sectors, including health and local development.

In this regard, the IOM chief said that his organisation works closely with ministries and the various stakeholders involved to better operationalize the migration policy in line with the advanced regionalization framework.

The IOM also supports the implementation of Morocco's National Immigration and Asylum Strategy in partnership with other UN agencies in Morocco, Swing said.

--IANS/MAP

soni/vm