The Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns Including Reintegration Measures (AVRR) ANNUAL REPORT JUNE 2017–MAY 2018 BULLETIN #2 The opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration, advance understanding of migration issues, encourage social and economic development through migration, and work towards effective respect of the human dignity and well-being of migrants. The authors – Alexandra Flessa, Christiana Outsika, Konstantina Mintzoli, Luna Emmanouil and Zoe Vanikioti – would like to thank all the IOM colleagues in the field, in the country office of IOM Greece in Athens and the sub-offices at the Greek mainland and islands, who have contributed to this report. This publication was made possible under the terms of the project, which is co-funded 75 per cent by European Funds (Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund) and 25 per cent by national funds. Publisher: International Organization for Migration – IOM Greece 6, Str. Dodekanisou 174 56 Athens, Greece Tel.: +30 210 9919040 Fax: + 30 210 9944074 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.greece.iom.int Cover: A beneficiary of assisted voluntary return and reintegration is reunited with his family after returning successfully to his home with assistance from IOM Greece. © IOM 2018/Mission in Greece ____________________________________________________ © 2019 International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Mission in Greece ____________________________________________________ All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. 93_18 The Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns Including Reintegration Measures (AVRR) The Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns Including Reintegration Measures iii Foreword (Chief of IOM Mission in Greece and Regional Response Coordinator) While various migration challenges are still rising in Greece, the Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns including Reintegration Measures (AVRR) project remains a stable pillar of safe, dignified and legal migration. During the last 12 months, more than 5,000 third-country nationals (TCNs) visited the International Organization for Migration (IOM), asking to return to their home countries, to their families, while during the last two years, more than 3,000 beneficiaries have received reintegration assistance through IOM specialized officers. The AVRR programmes have been at the heart of IOM’s commitments to protect migrants’ rights, while ensuring that every voluntary return is a result of a decision freely taken by the individual, encompassing two key elements – the freedom of choice and the informed decision – at the different ends of the migration spectrum. Within Europe, the IOM’s mission in Greece is implementing one of the largest AVRR operations mainly related to the large inflow of migrants. Since 2010, more than 43,000 TCNs have been assisted by IOM Greece to voluntarily return to their country of origin. AVRR is an indispensable part of a comprehensive approach to migration flows and in Greece, it is fully embedded in the mechanisms set by the Greek authorities for dealing with the management of migration issues. The AVRR project has been designed in close cooperation with the Greek authorities and is one of the most comprehensive in Europe, including pre-departure and counselling assistance, travel arrangements, return and reintegration measures for TCNs. iv FOREWORD It is with great pleasure that we present the second AVRR Bulletin, capturing information for the second year of the programme’s implementation covering the period from June 2017 to May 2018, which is the continuation of the activities implemented in the first annual report, covering the period from June 2016 to May 2017. The report is structured along four chapters: the first chapter presents an overview of the relationship between IOM and AVRR, while the second chapter features the key activities in the area of AVRR information campaign, which is pivotal for raising the awareness and understanding of voluntary return and reintegration. Return and the reintegration assitance are further elaborated in the third and fourth chapter, respectively. Rocco Gianluca Chief of IOM Mission in Greece and Regional Response Coordinator The Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns Including Reintegration Measures v Foreword (Special Envoy of the Director General of IOM to the Government of Greece and Advisor of the Regional Director in matters concerning the Mediterranean area) The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency, is the major intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. Since 1979, when the assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) programmes were firstly introduced by IOM, the Organization has been supporting those who decide to return to their homeland but lack the means to do so. Assistance provided under AVRR can help returnees in preparing for their travel, return and reintegration. At this glance and throughout its existence, the IOM Mission in Greece has implemented a wide range of projects based on fundamental human rights in the field of migration management following a rights-based approach. AVRR is one of the core activities of IOM and has provided vital assistance to tens of thousands of migrants returning home every year. The current three-year-programme on AVRR, the Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns including Reintegration Measures, commenced its implementation in June 2016 and will be completed in May 2019, and it is implemented under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) National Programme 2014–2020, funded 75 per cent by the European AMIF and 25 per cent by national funds. Through this project, our Mission provides assistance to stranded migrants in Greece, irregular migrants, regular migrants, asylum seekers who decide vi SECTION not to pursue their claims, as well as migrants in a situation of vulnerability, including victims of trafficking, elderly people, unaccompanied and separated children or migrants with health-related needs. Our purpose is to ensure safe, orderly and dignified migration that safeguards the human rights of migrants, and upholds international principles and standards. Throughout the chapters of this report, you may trace significant data for migration trends, understand the procedures followed by our Mission and discover the activities undertaken by IOM Mission in Greece in close cooperation with IOM Offices in countries of origin, local stakeholders, international counterparts, diplomatic authorities, Greek authorities, the Ministry of Interior and other collaborative entities, towards the successful implementation of the project so as to ensure that migrants have access to adequate and accurate information and individualized AVRR assistance. Daniel Esdras Special Envoy of the Director General of IOM to the Government of Greece and Advisor of the Regional Director in matters concerning the Mediterranean area The Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns Including Reintegration Measures vii Table of contents Foreword (Chief of IOM Mission in Greece and Regional Response Coordinator) iii Foreword (Special Envoy of the Director General of IOM to the Government of Greece and Advisor of the Regional Director in matters concerning the Mediterranean area) v List of tables, figures and maps ix List of acronyms x Definitions xi IOM Greece assisted voluntary return and reintegration key highlights, June 2017–May 2018 at a glance xv Chapter 1: International Organization for Migration and assisted voluntary return and reintegration 1 1.1. IOM Greece and assisted voluntary return and reintegration 3 1.2. Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund National Programme 2014–2020 5 Eligible beneficiaries 6 1.3. Partnerships 8 1.4. Open Centre for Migrants registered for Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration 9 Chapter 2: Information campaign 11 2.1. Raising awareness on assisted voluntary return and reintegration in Greece 11 MigApp functions 12 Production of information materials 15 2.2. Assisted voluntary return and reintegration activities 16 Mainland 17 Islands 21 Voices of returnees 24 2.3. Capacity-building 29 viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 3: The return process 35 3.1. Procedure 35 Chapter 4: The reintegration assistance 43 4.1. Target group and types of assistance in kind 45 4.2. Reintegration assistance process 45 4.3. Cooperation with IOM offices in countries of origin 46 4.4. Various types of reintegration assistance in kind 49 Monitoring visit to Morocco 52 Monitoring visit to India 53 Conclusion 55 Annex 1 AVRR projects since 2010 57 Annex 2 Information provision from islands from