The Foreign Service Journal, March 2013

28 MARCH 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The goal is to do this in a way that does not create fur- ther complications by disrupting patterns of seeking refuge outside Mali, while supporting neighboring countries in humanely managing the additional influx. Extensive data- gathering and repeated analysis are both indispensable in identifying and addressing current needs, keeping in mind longer-term implications and solutions that make the imme- diate assistance conducive to recovery. This is particularly true for the less-visible needs, risks and vulnerabilities of mobile populations that are frequently neglected in typical humanitarian responses. Promoting Dialogue on Migration The Mali example also highlights the absolute necessity of developing sustainable solutions through national and regional dialogue on migration. As an integral part of a holistic approach to human mobil- ity (including forced displacement) IOM remains committed to supporting dialogue on migration through the Regional Consultative Processes, the Global Forum on Migration and Development, the Global Migration Group, and other groups currently preparing for the 2013 United Nations High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Development. We hope that these efforts will ensure the integration of migration and the well-being of migrants into the post-2015 U.N. development agenda. We also continue to promote a general recognition that well-managed migration can actually be a driver for global stability and development. It is through these integrated approaches that IOM sup- ports individual governments’ diplomatic efforts to address the challenges of the ever-growing migration phenomenon, ranging from the strategically important area of labor migra- tion to the multiple, simultaneous and complex humanitarian emergencies that result in large-scale forced displacement. IOM renders this support not only through dialogue and policy recommendations, but through pragmatic, concrete activities that respect national sovereignty, as well as the rights of migrants and host populations. n The crisis in Mali is a perfect example of the need for national and regional dialogue on migration.