Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration

More than ever, migration today is not a linear phenomenon starting with emigration and ending with permanent settlement in a new country. Rather, migration is increasingly multidirectional, frequently involving return to countries of origin for short or long periods of stay, often followed by back-and-forth movement between two or more countries, or migration onward to new destinations. Therefore, the return of migrants to their countries of origin, or third countries, and their reintegration into the societies and communities that receive them, are natural features of international mobility.

Safe and dignified return and sustainable reintegration

In all its activities and programming on return and reintegration, IOM operates within the bounds of international law, including international migration law and human rights law. Moreover, as a related organization of the United Nations system, IOM promotes and respects the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. While not legally binding, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration provides additional guidance and its Objective 21 calls on States to to cooperate in facilitating safe and dignified return as well as sustainable reintegration.

Safe and dignified return and sustainable reintegration are an indispensable part of a comprehensive approach to migration management. Assisted voluntary return (AVR) programmes aim to support migrants who are unable or unwilling to remain in host or transit countries and wish to return to their countries of origin. The main beneficiaries of IOM’s return and reintegration assistance are stranded migrants in host or transit countries, irregular migrants, regular migrants, asylum seekers who decide not to pursue their claims or who are found not to be in need of international protection, and migrants in vulnerable situations, such as victims of trafficking, unaccompanied and separated children, or migrants with health-related needs. IOM also provides pre-departure assistance as well as reception and reintegration support to migrants whose return has been organised by other actors.

IOM views reintegration to be sustainable when “returnees have reached levels of economic self-sufficiency, social stability within their communities, and psychosocial well-being that allow them to cope with (re)migration drivers. Having achieved sustainable reintegration, returnees are able to make further migration decisions a matter of choice, rather than necessity”. This definition highlights the multidimensional nature of a reintegration process – economic, social and psychosocial – and the need to approach migrant reintegration in a comprehensive manner, considering the factors that can affect reintegration at the individual, community and structural levels.

IOM’s Return, readmission and reintegration policy

IOM’s Policy on the Full Spectrum of Return, Readmission and Reintegration (2021) guides IOM’s work on return migration through a holistic, rights-based and sustainable development-oriented approach that facilitates safe and dignified return, readmission and sustainable reintegration. It focuses on the well-being of individual returnees and the protection of their rights throughout the entire return, readmission and reintegration process, placing individuals at the center of all efforts and empowering those making an informed decision to participate in assisted voluntary return programs. At the same time, it recognizes that States have a sovereign prerogative to determine their national migration policies and to govern migration within their jurisdiction, in conformity with international law commitments.

IOM’s Guiding Principles

Ten guiding principles underpin IOM’s approach to the full spectrum of return, readmission and sustainable reintegration and apply equally to all activities IOM undertakes in this area. These are:

1. Rights-based approaches through active protection and upholding of migrant rights
2. Gender-responsive, child- and vulnerability-sensitive perspectives
3. Do no harm
4. Migrant agency
5. Accountability
6. Confidedntiality
7. Safe enviroment for return
8. Sustainability of reintegration
9. Whole-of-government approach and government ownership
10. Partnership and cooperation

Ongoing Projects

• Hungarian Voluntary Return, Reintegration, And Information Programme (MMIA-3.2.1/9-2020-00001; RR.0208)

Completed Projects

• Hungarian Voluntary Return, Reintegration and Information Programme (2018-2020)
• Complex Reintegration Assistance for Assisted Voluntary Returnees (2017 - 2018)
• Hungarian Assisted Voluntary Return, Reintegration and Information Programme for Migrants (2016 - 2018)
• Evaluation of Reintegration Assistance Provided to Returnees to Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) (2015)
• Hungarian Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme for Migrants (2014 - 2015)
• Complex Reintegration Assistance for Assisted Voluntary Returnees to Kosovo (UNSCR1244) (2014 - 2015)
• Hungarian Information Project for Migrants on Assisted Voluntary Return (2014 - 2015)
• Canadian Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (2012 - 2015)
• Improving Reintegration Assistance for Beneficiaries Returning to Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) (2014)
• Measures to Enhance the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration of Migrants with a Chronic Medical Condition Residing in the EU (AVRR-MC) (2014)  
• Hungarian Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme (HAVRR) (2013 - 2014)
• Reintegration Assistance for Assisted Voluntary Returnees to Kosovo (UNSCR1244) (2013 - 2014)
• Awareness Raising Information Campaign on Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (2013)
• Creation of a Voluntary Return European Network (VREN) (2012 - 2013)
• Country Information Gathering Mission to Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 (2011)
• Enhancing Mechanisms and Harmonizing Standards in the Field of Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants in EU Central European Member States (2006 - 2010)
• Assessment of AVR (2009)
• Capacity Building for AVR Practitioners (2009)
• Capacity Building of AVR Practitioners - Study Tour Germany (2009)
• Hungarian Voluntary Return and Information Programme (HARIP) (2004 - 2007)
• Hungarian Voluntary Return Programme (HARP) (1993 - 2007)
• Coping with Return (ERF Community Actions 2004) (2005 - 2006)
• Development of a Common Return Best Practice Handbook for the EU and Candidate Countries (ARGO 2003) (2004 - 2005)