UN Migration Agency gets First Ever Female Director in US's Amy Pope

Amy Pope of the United States successfully fought off competition from her European to take the top position at the International Organisation for Migration, making history as the first woman to head the U.N. migration agency.

Amy, 49, overcame Antonio Vitorino of Portugal, the European Union candidate, who surged into the post five years ago by outdoing a nominee put forth by the Trump administration for a position that has historically been held by Americans. Amy is the director general of the International Organisation for Migration.

Amy won the first round by a vote of 98-67, with significant support from the Biden administration, casting a shadow on Vitorino's chances for a second term. After the lunch break, word spread that Vitorino had withdrawn from the competition.

After member states opted to disregard what was a formality—the IOM rules requiring a two-thirds majority to win an election—his departure made it possible for Amy to win by acclamation.

She told reporters after the vote was completed behind closed doors by secret ballot and after a statement to the delegates. "It's an incredible moment in time to lead the International Organisation for Migration, and I could not be happier to stand before you to start that work," she said.

Amy and Vitorino greeted each other when they came for the announcement of her victory, shaking hands and grinning. She is anticipated to begin her five-year tenure on October 1st, according to a statement from the IOM.

The confrontation was remarkable since Amy was trying to overthrow her employer in a battle of allies. Portugal and the United States are both NATO allies.

The decision also brings to a close a renewed effort by the Biden administration to retain or reclaim top positions in U.N. organizations, including the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the International Telecommunications Union, in recent months — after the Trump administration largely shunned several Geneva institutions.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in a statement that "Ms. Amy’s election reflects a broad support by member states of her strategy to keep people at the centre of IOM's mission while pursuing key governance and budget reforms to ensure IOM can meet the challenges it faces."

Since the International Organisation for Migration was established 72 years ago, eight of the organization's ten directors general have been Americans. Nearly 19,000 employees of the organization operate in 171 nations to support "humane and orderly" migration.

Amy added that the situation at the southern US border serves as a stark reminder of the need for a far more all-encompassing response to migration. Many of the migrants encountered incredible challenges before arriving at the border.

Many of its 560 field offices' responsibilities include giving migrants food, drink, shelter, and assistance with government-mandated documentation. Additionally, the organization provides governments with huge volumes of data concerning population flows and advises them on policy choices.

Supporters praised Vitorino for increasing the IOM's budget and staff, assisting in the hiring and promotion of more women into key positions, and reaching out to developing nations.

Similar to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Vitorino, 66, is a former European Union commissioner for home and justice affairs as well as the head of a think tank.

At the beginning of President Joe Biden's administration, Amy, a former prosecutor, advised him on immigration. Most recently, Amy worked as Vitorino's deputy for reform and management.

IOM is confronting issues related to mass migration, and both the U.S. and the EU are significant funders. Critics accuse the EU of not doing more to stop migrants from traveling to Europe by dangerous boat over the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa.

Concerns about how changes to U.S. immigration law may affect persons attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border have been voiced by the Geneva-based UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency (which overlaps somewhat with what IOM does), and others.

Pope referred to the challenges encountered by migrants who travel across Central America to reach the United States, but she is sure to come under increased scrutiny if she criticizes any alleged errors in Biden's immigration policy.

“I don't work for the United States government, I'm the director-general of the International Organisation for Migration, she declared. In my opinion, it is crucial that we as a company criticize practises, regardless of where they originate, and state if they are effective or ineffective.”

IOM, which has 175 members, is addressing large migration problems in a variety of locations, including Bangladesh, Ukraine, Sudan, and South American countries that border Venezuela.