Port Moresby - The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnerhip with PNG Immigration & Citizenship Service Authority (ICSA), conducted a media training on migration and refugee issues for Papua New Guinean journalists and reporters today. In total, twenty media professionals from various media houses in Papua New Guinea (PNG) participated in the training.

PNG Immigration Department Senior Manager Mr Winnis Map while delivering his keynote address said, “The two-day media training is aimed at building the capacity of PNG journalists and reporters in reporting on migration and refugee issues, as well as improving the quality of reporting on refugee and migration issues. The expected outcomes of the training are correctness and improved quality of reporting together with the establishment of a qualified media cohort that understands and appreciates these issues well, he noted. The training will also help reinforce a positive relationship with media in the country.”

IOM’s Chief of Mission in PNG Mr George Gigauri rounded up IOM’s role and multidimensional support to the Government of PNG by stressing the importance of the training as one of the ways in enhancing media’s capacity together with building a strong partnership with PNG media. Mr Giguari highly valued the media’s positive contributions in promoting refugees issues and highlighted that it plays an extremely crucial role in educating the communities and all other stakeholders by providing the right information about refugee issues in context of local dynamics.

The two-day training workshop is part of the communications and community engagement support being provided by IOM to ICSA on refugee settlement in PNG. The communications and media project was designed by IOM as part of its support to ICSA/Refugee Division on creating an enabling environment for refugee protection in PNG. The IOM-ICSA project aims at designing and implementing media, strategic communications, advocacy, and community outreach activities to strengthen government’s efforts on refugee protection. A number of representatives from IOM and PNG Immigration partners participated in the workshop including ICRC Mission in PNG, Department of Justice and Attorney General, Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs, and Office of the UN Resident Coordinator.

Over the course, the training focused on roles and functions of PNG ICSA, including the PNG National Refugee Policy and compliances, roles of IOM in PNG, and the human rights perspective on refugee issues. The training also facilitated the formulation of recommendations as to how media, IOM, and ICSA can work together effectively in providing accurate and up-to-date information on migration and refugees issues.

For more information, please contact Ahmed Saleem via phone at asaleem@iom.int or George Gigauri at ggigauri@iom.int