Over the last 50 years, the volume and significance of international migration has grown rapidly. Every region of the world, and most of the states within them, are now countries of immigration or emigration-and sometimes both. This article examines international migration trends since the Second World War and reviews UNESCO programme activities. In view of the social, economic, cultural and human rights aspects of migration, the Organization has focused considerable efforts on its two distinct but related components: internal and international. The social, cultural, educational and occupational problems specific to women migrants-a theme which, in the 1980s, took on increasing importance and independence as reflected in a number of UNESCO meetings and publications-is reviewed at some length. The complexity of recent migration flows, emerging issues and the need to provide viable policy responses has led UNESCO to develop new methods of research and support for policy formulation by establishing regional migration research networks.

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international migration labor migration Global perspective immigrant population