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Representatives of the migrant communities from India, Thailand and Peru, in cooperation with the MIC, organized a unique event World in the Palm of Your Hand. The happening took place in Košice on 27 July 2013 and the participants had the possibility to discover new traditions, food and cultures of migrants coming from various countries and living in Košice.

According to the results of a representative survey of International Organization for Migration (IOM) Public Attitudes toward Foreigners and Foreign Migration in the Slovak Republic, people form their opinions on migration and migrants on the basis on misconceptions, prejudices and lack of information. The Slovak population is concerned about a high number of migrants who take over Slovak jobs, spread dangerous diseases, represent an economic burden on the state budget and the criminality of migrants may gradually increase. Migrants are seen as a threat to the domestic population and these feelings of threat generate additional prejudices.

International Organization for Migration (IOM) in coollaboration with the film director Marcel Pázman created a new documentary film We here at home here that through stories of individual migrants depicts the life of migrants in Slovakia and based on polls of people and basic facts on migration refers to the public attitudes towards migrants and the reality of migration in Slovakia. The film can be seen here:

In November 2012, more than 400 meetings of local and migrant families in 7 European countries took place. Selected family meetings and inquiries on the public attitudes towards migrants and migration was filmed in each country. The documentary film Next Door Family was made of this footage to demonstrate coexistence of locals and migrants in Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Italy, Spain and Slovakia.

Third issue of the e-newsletter of the Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Slovakia informs about IOM activities that took place from April to June 2013 as well as prepared activities and IOM counselling to migrants.

Newsletter of the IOM Office in the Slovak Republic, Issue 03/2013

IOM introduced itself at the biggest multicultural Festival Bažant Pohoda for the first time this year in July. From different materials and activities prepared by IOM the visitors could learn more about migration, IOM Migration Information Centre and about assistance to migrants with integration in Slovakia. IOM also launched a new campaign Nestaň sa obeťou obchodovania s ľuďmi (Do not Become a Victim of Human Trafficking) at the festival. The presented materials warn of the risks of human trafficking and also promote the helpline 0800 800 818. The helpline can be approached by anyone who is in danger of becoming or has already become a victim of human trafficking, or who is considering working abroad.

Second issue of the e-newsletter of the Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Slovakia informs about IOM activities that took place from January to March 2013.

Newsletter of the IOM Office in the Slovak Republic, Issue 02/2013

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Slovakia has published a study Migrants’Experiences with violence in Slovakia on the experiences of migrants in the Slovak Republic with violence, abuse and exploitation. The publication depicts the socio-economic patterns of migrants’ livelihoods, explores the origins of the violence and abuse, and identifies the key factors of risk, vulnerability and resilience. It also evaluates the present law, policy and practice and offers a set of recommendations for the key stakeholders.

In January 2013, IOM International Organization for Migration organized two trainings for 45 employees of alien police, border control police departments, border police directorate, labor offices, district offices, city councils and legal advice centers from all over Slovakia. Trainings were focused on enhancing expert capacities and intercultural skills of employees of state institutions who provide services to migrants in Slovakia.

In the first issue of the newsletter in 2013 we have made an overview of the key activities and achievements of IOM Bratislava, which we were able to carry out in the past year in the field of integration of migrants, assisted voluntary returns and reintegration, counter trafficking, coordination of activities of the European Migration Network and humanitarian transfers of refugees. After the statistical summary of the whole year this issue presents information on activities of IOM Bratislava conducted from October to December 2012, as well as other IOM client stories.

Newsletter of the IOM Office in the Slovak Republic, Issue 01/2013