IOM launches MigApp in the framework of the Regional Conference on Migration
IOM, the UN Migration Agency, and the Government of Panama, in their capacity as Pro-Tempore Chair of the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM), presented MigApp, IOM's mobile app for migrants. This launch was attended by vice-ministers of foreign affairs and government representatives of the 11 countries of Central America and North America that make up the RCM.
The IOM mobile app incorporates for the first time the functions that previously had the pilot regional app MigrantApp, already used by more than 12,000 people in the region: geolocated information on services of state institutions and non-profit organizations, health centers, consulates, embassies, among others. It also provides information on immigration requirements, visas and programs for assisted voluntary return.
With it, migrants in the region will be able to access geolocated information from more than 1700 assistance centers and assistance institutions, almost 400 offices for vulnerable migrants, 171 consulates and embassies and more than 600 health centers, NGO´s, among others. It also offers information on migratory services, access to training and job placement programs and specialized services for vulnerable persons such as migrant minors, LGBTI persons, victims of violence or trafficking in persons.
“We are very excited about the introduction of MigApp to Central and North America. This launch is a result of the strong collaboration and partnership between the Information and Communications Technology Division and the regional and country missions in Costa Rica. The teams worked very hard to combine the regional contextual information and services provided by the MigrantApp with the thematic information from MigApp to provide a greatly enhanced product” said Muwanga-Ssevume, IOM Chief Information Officer.
"The purpose of the app is to help migrants make informed decisions, simplifying access to information and safe and reliable services related to migration," said IOM Regional Director Marcelo Pisani. The app also contains services such as comparing the costs of sending remittances, alerts in case of emergencies, and others.
Mr. Jonathan Del Rosario, Minister of Security, stressed that "The Government of Panama is pleased to support this initiative, which is not only of vital importance to inform nationals abroad in a timely manner, but also to that we see the strategic role that a country can have when it receives migrants, or even a massive influx of visitors, like the one we expect in Panama in the framework of the World Youth Days in 2019".
MigApp was developed thanks to financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the U.S. Department of State and the IOM Development Fund (IDF).