From 16-18 February of this year, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA), in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration, held a national workshop in Uzbekistan on international standards in identification, detention and return of irregular migrants. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Security Service and Border Troops of the Republic of Uzbekistan took part in the event.

The workshop aimed at raising awareness about international legislation and legal instruments for efficient migration management, the development of institutional approaches in the processes of identifying irregular migrants and their effective return, as well as in improving the existing legal framework and law enforcement mechanisms for their return. During the workshop, participants learned about the best practices of the European Union’s member states in identifying migrants and procedures of detention, accommodation, and ensuring the rights of detained migrants and return, including the application of readmission agreements.

The experts from the State Border Guard of Latvia, State Border Guard Service of Lithuania, the UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration in Uzbekistan were engaged as experts at the workshop.

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.