Even the birds, returning from the South to the North, fly in flocks. Migrants’ organizations started to appear in the CIS countries even before migrating to Russia. When in Russia, the majority of these communities did not know anything about each other. The idea to unite efforts appeared in the minds of Russian migrants long time ago.
In March 1993 the Coordination Council for Assistance to Refugees and Forced Migrants (CC) was created on the basis of the public committee "Civil Assistance". Together with Moscow organizations working with migrants 12 migrants’ communities became members of the Council. The process of preparation for the Geneva Conference on Migration in the CIS Countries (1994 – 1996) became an important stimulus for further unity.
In Aril 22 – 23, 1996, a month before the Geneva Conference, the Ist Forum of Migrants’ Organizations took place at the Parliamentary Center in Moscow. The organization "Forum of Migrants' Organizations'" ("Forum ...") was created.
The "Forum"’s Office is located in the center of Moscow, at the building of the famous media outlet "Literaturnaya Gazeta". This became a tradition. "Literaturnaya Gazeta" used to be the most popular newspaper in Russia and was the first to write about refugees. In February of 1990 at this particular building at the initiative of the journalist Lidia Grafova a first Russian NGO in support of migrants was created – committee "Civil Assistance".
In 1993 the Committee "Civil Assistance" united a number of Moscow organization helping migrants – a Coordination Council in Support of Refugees and Forced Migrants (CC) was created. Later, the Coordination Council helped regional migrants’ NGOs to unite in one movement. Thus, the "Forum ..." had its predecessors.
The governing body of the Movement is the Executive Committee. Its members are elected for the period of three years by the general conference of migrants’ organizations. Currently, there 19 leaders of migrants’ NGOs from different regions of Russia in the Executive Committee. The Coordination Council in Support of Refugees and Forced Migrants (CC) still plays the role of the "working body" (apparatus) of the "Forum ..."
