Every September, leaders, diplomats, and advocates gather for the United Nations General Assembly. For the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the 80th session was more than a series of high-level meetings. It was a week of tireless advocacy, strategic dialogue, and powerful moments that brought IOM’s mission to life on the global stage.
IOM’s delegation, led by Director General Amy Pope and Deputy Director General Ugochi Daniels, worked across the UN complex and beyond. They advocated for the rights of migrants, forged new partnerships, and reinforced the message that safe, regular and orderly migration can be a driver of resilience, opportunity, and collective progress.
The United Nations Headquarters rose over New York City – a place shaped by migrants – as a fitting stage for the world’s most important conversations on migration, resilience, and global cooperation.
The high-level week began with a moment of solemn reflection, with a gathering on the UN complex's North Lawn to honor humanitarians who died in the line of duty. In 2024 alone, 380 humanitarians lost their lives serving people in need – a stark reminder of the risks and sacrifices behind every humanitarian response.
Inside the General Assembly Hall, IOM’s leadership listened as world leaders delivered speeches that would set the tone for the week. The theme, “Building our future together,” echoed through the hall, highlighting the need for collective solutions to turn safe, regular, and orderly migration into a driver of development and prosperity.
One highlight was the IOM-organized “Migration at a Crossroads: A Strategic Dialogue for a Changing World.” At this event, presidents, ministers and partners from across the globe discussed how multilateralism and innovation can help manage migration in ways that uphold dignity and opportunity for all. The event showcased IOM’s distinct role as the UN’s lead organization on migration, combining policy expertise with extensive field presence.
Amidst the busy agenda, IOM teams met with dedicated partners to continue preparations for COP30 in Brazil, reinforcing the link between climate mobility and humanitarian action.
In a discussion co-convened by IOM and Foreign Policy, participants highlighted how public-private partnerships, grounded in ethics and community leadership, are shaping the future of global development. The IOM-run Islamic Philanthropy Fund is an example of that.
Another milestone came with IOM’s signing of an agreement with KSrelief, further strengthening their collaboration to deliver aid and solutions for displaced populations. This partnership reflects IOM’s commitment to building trust and pursuing practical, principled solutions through cooperation.
Throughout UNGA80, IOM shared stories of migrants that go beyond statistics. From the field to the global stage, IOM’s work is ultimately about people: those on the move, those rebuilding after crisis, and those striving for dignity and opportunity. By amplifying these stories, IOM showed the world why its mission matters. These moments remind us that migration is not just a policy debate but a human story – one that IOM is committed to telling and to changing for the better.
Photos by Muse Mohammed, Ed Ou, Olga Borzenkova, Antoine Lemonnier