By Géraldine d'Hoop

IOM is currently conducting a world-wide campaign, #MigrantHeroes, inviting people around the world to identify and tell the stories of Migrant Heroes who contribute in a significant manner to their countries of origin and their host communities. The aim of this campaign is to highlight the diversity of migration and the various ways through which migrants can positively impact society.

On this occasion, the IOM Country Office for Belgium and Luxembourg and the UN in Brussels participated on Sunday 31 May in the 20 Km of Brussels, a major event in Belgium, getting together runners and joggers from 133 different nationalities! All this surrounded by multiple music bands.

The IOM-UN Team comprised 52 persons representing various organizations such as IOM Brussels, IOM The Hague, IOM Oslo, UNRIC, UNRWA, UNIDO, WHO, ILO, European Commission, Embassy of Nepal, University of Antwerpen and University of Leuven. The participants originate from a large panel of countries around the world such as Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Nepal, Norway, The Netherlands, Portugal, Swaziland and Tunisia.

Several participants ran and walked with giant balloons in order to highlight the campaign and show that 'Diversity shapes the World'. A balloon release took place under the Cinquantenaire Arch and closed up the successful participation of the IOM-UN Team.

Next appointment is set on Sunday  29 May 2016, for the 37th Edition of the 20 Km of Brussels!