Co-funded by the European Union

Better Migration Management (BMM) programme in

General context Better Migration Management Horn of Africa Due to its strategic location between East Africa and the Gulf States, Djibouti is a key transit country for migration flows across the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Most of the migrants, mainly from and Project name Better Migration Management programme Somalia, head to Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East and the Gulf to seek better Political Partner in Ministry of Interior livelihoods. Since the conflict in Yemen reignited in Djibouti 2015, Djibouti has also received refugees from that Duration April 2016 to September 2022 country. An average of 200 migrants transit through Djibouti per month (IOM, 2020). Recently, Djibouti Implementing CIVIPOL, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale has been facing an influx of migrants, mainly Partners in Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, International Djibouti Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Ethiopians, returning from the Gulf countries to their Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Expertise countries of origin. France and the Italian Department of Public Security were also implementing partners in phase I. GIZ Djibouti’s population stands at nearly one million, heads the implementing partnership. some 12 per cent of whom are migrants (UN, 2019). Often out of necessity, many travel irregularly i.e. in other words without a visa or valid documents. That migrant protection. In 2020, many Ethiopian migrants makes them vulnerable and increases their risk of became stranded in Djibouti during their journey to experiencing economic exploitation, physical abuse the Middle East due to the COVID-19 pandemic. or sexual assault during their journey. The fact that 47.4 per cent of migrants are women and 22.7 per Back in 2016, the European Union (EU) and cent are minors underscores the need for effective Germany established and funded the Better Migration

1 1 However, the overall protective framework still needs to be improved to enable safe migration. Relevant policies and legislation need to be reformed, infrastructure improved and cross-border cooperation enhanced. In addition, effective referral systems need to be established to support and protect vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking.

BMM’s approach and activities

The overall objective of the programme is to enable national authorities and institutions to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration and to effectively address and reduce trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants within and from the Horn of Africa region by using a human rights-based approach. Activities are implemented in three Management (BMM) programme to improve migration interconnected components: migration governance, management in the Horn of Africa. The programme effective institutions to address trafficking and supports the Government of Djibouti in developing smuggling, and protection. In Djibouti, BMM works in and improving national migration policies and partnership with the country’s Ministry of Interior. frameworks and in contributing to regional migration Based on the results of the programme’s phase I, governance. It works in close coordination with the BMM II focuses on consolidating a national and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional integrated approach to migration and the African Union (AU). management and on ensuring its sustainability beyond the duration of the programme. BMM staff Djibouti has already achieved some success in coordinate their activities closely with those of other countering human trafficking and smuggling. A whole- international organisations and projects funded by the of-government approach is being adopted for the EU and other donors in Djibouti to harness synergies inter-institutional coordination of migration. With and avoid duplications. support from BMM, the coastguards of Somaliland and Djibouti jointly signed an aide memoire on the Migration governance organisation of effective maritime collaboration to address migrant smuggling and human trafficking at BMM continues to support the Government of Djibouti sea and to implement appropriate protection mea- in establishing the National Migration Coordination sures for victims of trafficking. The programme has Office. The Office will coordinate migration manage- provided training for law enforcement officers on the ment and address trafficking in persons and smugg- investigation and prosecution of human trafficking ling of migrants with Djibouti’s authorities at different and smuggling cases. It has also trained border levels. The project further strengthens the prefectures officials and other first responders from the police, that oversee the coordination of migration manage- immigration and customs authorities and civil society ment within and between their respective sub- organisations (CSOs) in identifying and assisting regions. A model for the organisation of prefectures vulnerable and trafficked migrants and referring them has already been drafted, and local coordination to appropriate shelters and service providers for committees will be established within phase II. legal, medical and psychosocial support. With support from BMM, the Ministry of Health opened a medical clinic in the Migration Response Centre in Obock to support migrants by providing medical and psycho- social assistance, accommodation and counselling.

BMM also set up an e-visa system to ensure uniform access to and approval of visas from Djibouti. Furthermore, a Migration Information and Data Analysis System has been put in place to simplify entry procedures, analyse migration trends, detect crime and improve migrant support more effectively. Furthermore, BMM has facilitated participation by Regional conferences on topics such as anti-trafficking strengthened CSOs from Djibouti at the Regional CSO Forum for cooperation between the countries. ©GIZ/Sari Omer Safe and Fair Migration.

2 Effective institutions to address trafficking and smuggling

BMM is improving the effectiveness of institutions in implementing updated migration policies and legislation. In Djibouti, the programme is advising the Ministry of Interior on developing a national strategy to achieve the goals set by the Global Compact on Migration. The programme is promoting cross-border cooperation between Djibouti and Ethiopia as well as inter-institutional cooperation between national law enforcement agencies and prosecutors on trafficking and smuggling cases. This includes the establishment of standard procedures and the provision of equipment for collecting evidence.

BMM supported the opening of a new border post to Ethiopia in Balho and will facilitate safe and fair migration. ©GIZ/Mulugeta Gebrekidane After analysing the existing curricula in Djibouti, BMM designed a curriculum on Investigating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in line with the Following phase I, the Djibouti National Migration international framework and with reference to human Profile is currently being developed, involving the rights-based criminal justice and law enforcement Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Women approaches and responses, including a highly victim- and Family Affairs, to include qualitative and centred approach. The curriculum will be permanently quantitative data in the national migration profile. included in the regular general training curricula of Further data are being provided by two studies the Police Academy, Gendarmerie Academy, Ecole undertaken by the programme on migrants residing in Internationale de Perfectionnement à la Pratique de Djibouti Ville and the health coverage of migrants in la Police Judiciaire (International School of Judicial the country. Police Practice Improvement) and the Ecole des Gardes-Côtes (Coastguard College). The programme BMM has already advised the Government of Djibouti is training police, gendarmerie and coastguard on how to enact the two protocols of the United officials to become trainers. Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) in national law: the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol and the Protocol of Trafficking in Persons. Ratification and effective implementation are expected in phase II. The programme has also facilitated consultative meetings in Djibouti on the signing of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. It will continue to train key national actors on developing the Global Compact implementation plan and periodic reviews. Coastguard officials are being trained on investigating human BMM is also promoting Djibouti’s cross-border trafficking cases with a highly victim-centred approach. ©GIZ cooperation with Ethiopia on regular and irregular migration. Both countries face serious challenges BMM also established a working group with from trafficking and smuggling of migrants due to the representatives of the police, gendarmerie, extensive and entrenched criminal networks along coastguard and prosecution to foster exchange and the route. Women, girls, boys and men are vulnerable cooperation on human trafficking and smuggling. In to the exploitation and torture that is part of the addition, a specialised unit will be set up to counter various forms of both domestic and international human trafficking and smuggling within the office of trafficking. In September 2020, a new point of entry the Procureur de la République (public prosecutor). was opened close to the town of Balho at the Furthermore, officials from border authorities and northern border to Ethiopia. It is the third official entry immigration services are receiving training on point between the two countries and addresses the integrated border management to facilitate safe and lack of cross-border infrastructure, increases trade legal migration. and creates employment opportunities. There are also plans to assist the Ministry of Interior in BMM is supporting Djibouti’s National Human Rights constructing the border post in Balho and improving Commission (CNDH) in protecting and promoting operationalisation of the border post in Galafi. human rights within the field of migration.

2 3 A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed Results of BMM (April 2016 – September 2020) as a joint agreement on cooperation on the protection 1,000 representatives of state departments sup- of human rights by CNDH, the law enforcement ported in improving the coordinated management agencies and 13 local CSOs to underline the human of migration and strengthening national migration rights-based treatment of migrants. policies, legislation and cross-border cooperation.

The programme also contributed to the establishment 11 capacity building measures for 330 state and non- of information centres managed by CNDH in the five state actors implemented in the field of investigation regions of the country (Tadjourah, , Arta, Ali- and prosecution of human trafficking, integrated border Sabieh, and Obock). These centres are serving as management and referral of migrants to services. one-stop-centres providing information and exchange possibilities on human rights and migration. They 18,900 individuals potentially reached through pub- lic awareness-raising activities on human trafficking offer referral services for vulnerable cases and and migrant rights. record, monitor and follow-up on violations of human rights. Migrants can submit their complaints to the 6,300 vulnerable migrants directly assisted through centres. Information campaigns about migrant rights the provision of accommodation, basic services and and the complaint service about violations of these medical support (phase I only). rights for migrants and the local communities are ongoing. Furthermore, the programme supports the engagement of CNDH in the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions. A working group victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants. The for human rights institutions in BMM partner countries information is being made available digitally for actors was initiated to develop sustainable solutions towards within the referral system and will be hosted by the the protection of migrant rights in the region. Office National d'Assistance aux Réfugiés et Sinistrés (ONARS). Protection During the first phase, BMM elaborated a specific BMM is helping provide better assistance to and capacity development plan for CSOs in the Horn of protection for vulnerable migrants and victims of Africa and is now implementing training on several trafficking in Djibouti. The programme supports the topics such as strategic planning, project government in implementing a referral structure and management, fundraising and budgeting. The provides all relevant actors in the regions with training programme is also supporting in developing a CSO to effectively assist vulnerable migrants and victims of strategy to support vulnerable migrants and victims of trafficking. It also refers them to appropriate services trafficking, and in reinforcing a national CSO coalition such as shelters, legal aid, and medical and to foster their exchange and cooperation in Djibouti. psychosocial support. Information material has been produced to familiarise first responders with the BMM aims to develop sustainable solutions together referral structure. with the Djiboutian Government. The programme will engage relevant private, public, and civil society In phase I, BMM mapped out and vetted essential actors in multi-stakeholder dialogues on vocational services offered by 30 providers across Djibouti for training and job opportunities for migrants.

Published by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Contact BMM Regional Office Ethiopia / Djibouti Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH [email protected]

Registered Bonn and Eschborn, Germany Design/Layout GIZ/Ira Olaleye offices Photo credits GIZ Project Better Migration Management Programme Rue de la Charité 33 / Liefdadigheidsstraat 33 The programme is funded by the European Union and the German 1210 Bruxelles/Brussels Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Belgique/België GIZ is responsible for the content of this publication.

As at February 2021, Contact Sabine Wenz, Programme Director Brussels E-mail: [email protected] Phase II EUTF website Phase I EUTF website GIZ website