Policy and Legislation

This study – conducted by UNICEF The Netherlands – explores the Dutch approach, policies, and practices relating to children who do not have a legal right to remain in the Netherlands. The research involved a review of relevant Dutch laws and regulations, and of significant literature and studies on returns, alongside interviews with key informants.

This paper studies return aspirations and current return movements of Syrian refugees residing in Turkey and Lebanon to understand who aspires to return after the end of the war, and why and when refugees return with the conflict still ongoing. To do so, we embed future return aspirations into refugees’ broader life aspirations and study how these interact...

This Report is focused on the specific issue of the lack of a formal Best Interests Determination procedure for separated children and the practice of return of separated children to return houses in countries of origin. Wider issues regarding return in general and the larger area of the treatment and rights of child migrants and asylum seekers fall outside...

The objective of the General Comment is to draw attention to the particularly vulnerable situation of unaccompanied and separated children; to outline the multifaceted challenges faced by States and other actors in ensuring that such children are able to access and enjoy their rights; and, to provide guidance on the protection, care and proper treatment of...

The present report is the first to be submitted to the Human Rights Council by the new mandate holder, Felipe González Morales, who assumed his functions on 1 August 2017. In the report, the Special Rapporteur summarizes the activities undertaken since taking up his functions, and includes a thematic study on the return and reintegration of migrants.

These present guiding principles are intended for use by state authorities and civil society bodies, as well as inter-governmental organizations in the OSCE region involved in developing, applying, evaluating and reforming national laws, policies and practices related to trafficking, in particular to the return of trafficked persons. They provide the target...

The report assesses the progress in the implementation of the legal and policy framework for the reintegration of persons repatriated to Kosovo. It covers the period 2014 – 2015 and notes the improved performance of municipal institutions following the process of decentralization culminating in the adoption of Local Action Plans, the improved data collection...

The report provides an overview of the current status of voluntary returns in Kosovo, including internally displaced persons and persons displaced in the region. It covers the period from January 2015 to December 2018 and provides updates to the OSCE 2014 report on voluntary returns.

This article addresses under which circumstances migrants returning from European to (post-) conflict countries are willing and able to contribute to development and peace-building in their countries of origin. Based on comparative research in six countries world-wide and an in-depth study in Afghanistan, we explore (1) the heterogeneity of the post-return...

This online course, based on the Reintegration Handbook, aims at providing a foundational learning experience covering the various levels (individual, community and structural) and dimensions (economic, social and psychosocial) affecting reintegration. The curriculum consists of 5 modules : 1. Introduction to the Integrated Approach to Reintegration. 2...

Unlawfully entering or illegally staying aliens are issued a return decision, which sets a period for voluntary departure during which an alien must depart on his own. A decision on expulsion is issues to aliens who fail to leave within the prescribed period for voluntary departure and on other grounds established by law (for example, an alien represents a...

The aim of this study is to review the AVR programmes carried out in Lithuania in 2004-2009, to assess the need for such programmes, as well as to provide an overview of the migrants' motives and emerging obstacles to the use of the AVR programmes. This study is part of the European research carried out by the European Migration Network (EMN), which aims to...

The evaluation of the CBSA’s pilot program was identified in the CBSA Five-Year Evaluation Plan (2013-2018), approved by the Executive Evaluation Committee in July 2013. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the relevance and performance of the pilot program, in accordance with the Treasury Board Secretariat Policy on Evaluation and to inform a...

The overall purpose of this evaluation was to review the effectiveness and efficiency of the project, assess its outcome and impact, and consider prospects for sustainability, as well as to identify and document lessons learned and best practices in view of the planned replication and up‐scaling of the project activities. This evaluation was “A Terminal...

Return migration is an integral and significant element in the cycle of international migration. In recent years, it has received increased focus from host and origin countries because both groups are interested in leveraging return migration to their economic advantage. Despite this growing attention, limited research has been conducted to understand the...

Following the advice of the Return Expert Group (REG) and the discussion within the Working Party on Integration, Migration and Expulsion of 14 April 2016, Member States agreed on the principle of alignment of existing AVR(R) programmes within the EU, increasing uptake of AVR(R) and minimising the differences between AVR(R) programmes across the EU with the...

This document was prepared based on the results of the workshop “Regional Workshop on Policies, Practices and Conclusions for the Return, Reintegration and Integration of Migrants”, (September, 2013), in San Jose, Costa Rica within the framework of the Regional Conference on Migration. Its preparation was technically and financially supported by the...

The Policy Guide on Entrepreneurship for Migrants and Refugees draws on the experience, knowledge and networks of UNCTAD, IOM and UNHCR in the fields of migration and entrepreneurship development. This inter-agency document offers practical guidance to policymakers and development partners. It was produced in response to the New York Declaration for Refugees...

Data protection continues to be a growing field in the context of international organizations. It is also a necessary consideration at national and regional level given the increased use of advanced technology in migration management, data theft, data loss, and unnecessary or inappropriate use and disclosure of sensitive data. While there exists vast...

Return migration has in recent decades emerged as a critical element of many governments' migration policy - an integral part of effective migration management, alongside strong border management and timely and fair asylum processes. It is seen by many as the cornerstone of any successful strategy to prevent or deter irregular migration and residence in EU...