On 27 March 2012 St. Petersburg Center for International Cooperation of the Red Cross organized a meeting at a round table for mass media representatives on migration situation in St. Petersburg. Results of several surveys in the sphere of labour migration were presented during the round table. The event was organized within the EU project aimed at protection of migrants’ rights and prevention of human trafficking, implemented by St. Petersburg Center for International Cooperation of the Red Cross - IOM Moscow partner in the Central Asia regional migration programme (CARMP).

The meeting was devoted to the following remarkable dates: 145 years since the Russian Red Cross foundation, 20 years of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation (FMS of Russia) and 20 years anniversary of UNHCR work in Russia.

Welcome speeches were made by Tatiana Lineva – Head of St. Petersburg Center for International Cooperation of the Red Cross, Gesche Karrenbrock – UNHCR Representative in the Russian Federation, Anna Kudrya – Coordinator of UNICEF “Child Protection” Programme in Russia.

The Center of Independent Sociological Studies presented results of the survey “Labour Migrants in St. Petersburg: Identification of Problems and Development of Recommendations”. The survey was aimed at identification of actual problems of St. Petersburg labour migrants in legislative, labour and social spheres and giving a policy advice on migration legislation improvement.

“Sociology of Education and Science” scientific-educational laboratory of National Research University “Higher School of Economics” was requested by UNICEF to conduct a research “Situation with Migrants’ Children in St. Petersburg”. The research studied needs and problems with adaptation and integration of migrants’ children in the local society, developed recommendations on improvement of adaptation of minors. Research made an analysis of 8-800-333-00-16 hot-line enquiries in the interests of migrants’ children. Such analysis was effective in defining the range of main problems of minors, addressed to the hot-line by their parents or guardians.

Dmitriy Nikiforov, Head of UFMS of Russia in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, in his report said that Russia and in particular its North-West region is in demand in labour migrants.

Journalists from a number of all-Russia and St. Petersburg mass media as well as members of UN Women pool of journalists, created within CARMP, took part in the meeting.

IOM Moscow specialist made a presentation on tendencies of labour migration in Russia and told about work of CARMP Information-Resource Center in the sphere of labour migration, emphasizing cooperation of the IOM and the Red Cross in functioning of the hot-line.