This event, which is divided into a series of cultural events, will be officially launched next Monday at 4:30 p.m., in a press conference to be attended by the Ambassador of Switzerland to Morocco, Luis Bertrand, UNDP Resident Representative in Morocco and Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Morocco, Bruno Pouezat and the spokesman for the IOM, Leonard Doyle.

The aim is to involve the various bodies concerned in a discussion with the audience to raise awareness on the issue of prejudice.

"At the end of this week, we hope to help the general public to take hold of the issues that characterize such a theme," says IOM.

The program of this 6 day- long event includes music concerts, screenings of documentaries and films, photo exhibits, stories and children's workshops around the main theme of this year, namely "the integration of migrants in the fields of employment, health and education."

The event will wrap up with a discussion meeting on the integration of migrants scheduled on December 18 at 5 pm. This theme, the statement said, is crucial especially in the creation of employment opportunities, access to primary care in hospitals, and education of migrants' children.

In December 2000 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the 18th of December as the International Migrants Day, the statement said. It commemorates the adoption -to the same date in 1990 of the United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

This day is an opportunity to break the stigma and raise awareness of the contribution of migrants in the economic, cultural and social life, to the benefit of both their country of origin and the country of destination.