From 13-15 April of this year, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA), in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Agency and the International Organization for Migration, held an online workshop on international standards in identification, detention and return of irregular migrants. Representatives of the State Migration Service, State Border Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of National Security of the Republic of Turkmenistan took part in the event. This is the third workshop of its kind conducted by the BOMCA Programme in the Central Asian region, following similar activities implemented this year in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

The workshop aimed at raising awareness about international legislation and legal instruments for efficient migration management, development of institutional approaches to the processes of identifying irregular migrants and their effective return, as well as  improving the existing legal framework and law enforcement mechanisms for their return. The expert group was composed of the representatives of State Border Guard of Latvia, State Border Guard Service of Lithuania and the UN Refugee Agency in Uzbekistan.  During the workshop, participants learned about the practices of the European Union countries in methods of identifying migrants and procedures of detention, accommodation, ensuring the rights of detained migrants and return, including the application of readmission agreements.

The workshop resulted in  expert recommendations related to the improvement of legislation and internal regulations, discussions on approaches for cooperation between the EU and Central Asian countries in the field of return, including implementation of readmission agreements. 

During the event, participants, supported by the experts, analysed national legislation in comparison to international standards and discussed their findings. Special attention was paid to cooperation between institutions responsible for migrant issues, as well as international and non-governmental organisations. They also learned about standards applicable to immigration detention centres (specialised centres) and the treatment safeguards to be provided to migrants detained there.