Let’s celebrate 100 years of child protection and family reunification (and prepare the next 100 years).

It is in Geneva, Switzerland, that ISS was founded by a handful of women. Facing the challenges of post World War I migrations, these women explorers recognised the need for coordinated action between countries to ease the passage of those travelling to unfamiliar lands, and to reduce the numbers of migrants being refused entry to countries they had gone to. The idea of an international migration agency was born.

For 100 years, ISS has been developing ecosystems allowing children and their families to be protected and reunited through time and across borders ISS has built a global network of members to address the needs of cross border social services through international and regional cooperation. It is the strength of this global network that has reunited children with their families across the world.

Solidly anchored on national levels through its worldwide network and community of social workers, ISS has been at the forefront of a changing social panorama, tackling complex challenges and real-life situations around child protection, childrens’ rights, family reunification and mediation, and much more.