1 International Organization for Migration Norway - Oslo 1
Content 2 1. Definition of Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration 2. Why AVRR? 3. AVRR vs. Forced Returns 4. IOM Oslo s AVRR Programme 5. Vulnerable Groups in AVRR 6. Vulnerable Migrants Who are they? 7. The Vulnerable Groups Project 8. VG Project Cooperative Partners 9. AVRR and VoT The Assistance Process i. Victim identification ii. Direct Assistance and Rehabilitation iii. Possibility of Voluntary Return iv. Reintegration and Recovery v. Trends and monitoring 10. VG Statistics and Examples
Definition of AVRR 3 Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR): Provision of logistical and financial support by IOM to migrants who are unable or unwilling to remain in the host country and who volunteer to return to their countries of origin or another third country. Reintegration is the re-inclusion or reincorporation of a person into a group or process, e.g. of a migrant into the society in his/her country of origin. i. Pre-departure assistance ii. Return iii. Reception iv. Reintegration assistance v. Monitoring
Why AVRR? 4 Humane and Orderly Migration benefits Individuals and Society Migrants: Takes into account migrants well informed decision Allows for preparation to return Ensures respect for human rights and dignity Avoids stigma of forced return and negative repercussions for reintegration Provides counselling, financial and/or logistical and reintegration support Governments: Generally more cost-effective for host countries Politically acceptable to both host countries and countries of origin Enhances international cooperation
AVRR vs. Forced Returns 5 The benefits of AVRR over Forced Returns: Preferable option for return management policies (at the end of 2010, the common standards on return, the so called Return Directive agreed by EU States in 2008 entered into force) Reduces number of forced returns More beneficial for migrants due to: a) More humane and dignified approach b) Allows for provision of impartial and objective advice Based on cooperation between origin, transit, and host countries Reduced likelihood for irregular re-migration of migrants after return Tends to be more cost-effective than forced return, because: No need for costly lawenforcement elements
6 IOM Oslo s AVRR Programme The Norwegian Cultural Orientation Programme Voluntary Assisted Return Programme (VARP) Reintegration Programmes: Vulnerable Groups (VG) Afghanistan (IRRANA) Iraq (IRRINI) Somaliland (ARRSO) Ethiopia (ARE) Financial Support to Return (FSR) for other countries
Vulnerable Groups in AVRR 7 Vulnerable Migrants (VG) Need for specialized protection frameworks: Child friendly processes Gender-sensitive processes Specialized accommodation facilities Need for community-based programme outside of institutional detention frameworks Need for closely coordinated return, reception and reintegration frameworks
8 Vulnerable Migrants: Who are they? Unaccompanied Minors (UAMs) Below the age of 18 years Aged-out minors Who arrived in Norway as an UAM as per definition above and who turned 18 during his/her stay in Norway Victims of trafficking (VoTs) Both adults and children, as well as dependents of VoT Migrant with medical conditions Physical or psychological, including disabled Other vulnerable migrants such as: Unaccompanied elderly people Migrants who have been victims of domestic violence or other form for exploitation (eg. labour) Women in forced marriages One-parent families with children with no support mechanisms in countries of origin
The Vulnerable Groups Project 9 Objective: Return in a safe and dignified manner 30 vulnerable migrants to their Country of Origin (CoO) Replaces previous separate projects for VoT and UAM Time frame: 01. July 2012 30. June 2013 Possible extension Donor: Target Group: Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security Return department within the Norwegian Immigration Department 20 VoT/UAM 10 AOM and other vulnerable groups
The Vulnerable Groups Project cont. In-kind Reintegration Assistance in total 7800 USD: 10 Economic reintegration: Education, Vocational training, Business startup, Job placement 4500 USD 1500 USD Temporary accommodation, if needed 300 USD 1500 USD Medical needs Subsistence Allowance
11 VG Project Cooperative Partners Network National Coordinating Unit for Victims of Trafficking (KOM) Referral Agencies Shelters NGOs and Unions IOM missions in home countries Asylum centres Lawyers Social Services Child protection Services Local Police Friends Minority communities
The Assistance Process for VoT 12 Identified by KOM partner as a potential VoT Granted reflection period and wish to return home Rejected asylum application and wish to return home Declined reflection period and wish to return Other expired legal options
The Assistance Process for VoT cont. Sphere of Protection: Victim Safety & Security Victim identification/ Trends and monitoring 13 Reintegration and Recovery Direct Assistance and Rehabilitation Return Assistance Possibility of Voluntary Return
14 The Assistance Process for VoT cont. Victim Identification Screening for potential victims Removing potential victims from confinement, detention, etc. Treatment as victims of a crime, not criminals Child friendly/gender sensitive procedures Direct Assistance and Rehabilitation Safety/Security/Protection for victims at specialized shelter/safe house/similar safe environment Attention of immediate, food, accommodation & medical needs
The Assistance Process for VoT cont. 15 Possibility of Voluntary Return / Risk Assessment / Family tracing (if UAM) Risk assessment in case of return in line with the Best Interest of the Child-Principle (BID) Locating family and determination on best course of action for return to that family and home community in light of trafficking victim s experience Determining best interest option for safe return/reintegration Contacting IOM mission in Country of Origin to prepare for return and reintegration Link pre-departure counselling with reintegration assistance
The Assistance Process for VoT cont. 16 Return and Transit Assistance Travel arrangements Transfer Assistance to the airport Transit assistance Medical or non-medical escorts for vulnerable cases Temporary accommodation (if necessary) Reintegration and Recovery Tailored to individual needs Focus: economic reintegration Legal assistance, if necessary Link to local development Impact on the local community
The Assistance Process for VoT cont. Measuring Progress during the reintegration process 17 Trends and Monitoring Identification of trends/needs/changes among beneficiary population Recording successes/best practices and challenges encountered during project implementation Assessment of: Performance of reintegration assistance system Impact of reintegration assistance on beneficiaries Impact of reintegration assistance on local communities
Number of persons VG Statistics and Examples 18 1. July 31. Dec -12 Nationality Departures Iraq 2 Albania 4 Chile 1 7 6 5 4 Overview VG Departures 1 July - 31 December 2012 4 6 Romania 6 Nigeria 1 Total 14 3 2 1 2 1 1 0 Iraq Albania Chile Romania Nigeria
Number of persons VG Statistics and Examples cont. 19 5 4 Sex and VG Type of Departures 4 4 3 3 3 2 1 0 VG UAM VG CT VG OTHER Sex VG Type* UAM CT OTHER Female 0 3 4 Male 3 4 2 Total 3 7 6 *Dependents of VG CT and VG Other are counted together under the category of the primary applicant
VG Statistics and Examples cont. 20 UAM (3) VG Others (4) VoT (7) 6 of the 9 adults who returned under the current reporting period, is that their vulnerability was related to labour exploitation, whether in relation to stealing/criminal activities or low paid slavery-like work
VG Statistics and Examples cont. 21 Top 3 Countries of Origin Romania Nigeria Albania
VG Statistics and Examples cont. 22 Category Vulnerable Category Vulnerable Category VoT Category VoT Single woman CoO: Chile Working in slave-like conditions Not a VoT per definition, but considered vulnerable for being exploited for her labour and without resources or means to get out of the situation Single parent female CoO: Nigeria Two small babies, one young child No network or contact with family in CoO Has lived outside CoO for 10 years Came to Norway voluntarily to escape violent husband in Italy 5 young people: 4 young males, 1 young female CoO: Romania Trafficked to Norway to steal and beg on the street Female has left behind 1 child in CoO Single woman CoO: Nigeria Trafficked for sexual exploitation Has testified against her traffickers and applied for asylum while being granted a reflection periood of 6 mnts Applied for voluntary return when asylum declined
23 Thanks for your attention! Therese Abrahamsen Project Coordinator IOM Oslo tabrahamsen@iom.int