OSCE Centre supports workshop on readmission of persons

Astana, Kazakhstan, 13 November 2014 - An OSCE-supported capacity-building seminar aimed to enhance professional knowledge and skills of law-enforcement officers on readmission issues, co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, Interior Ministry and International Organization of Migration, began today in Astana.

Some 20 representatives of the migration and readmission departments of the Interior Ministry will participate in the one-day seminar to learn about best practices in organizing return procedures and implementing agreements on readmission of persons.

With readmission agreements also being an instrument to guarantee returnees' rights and freedoms, participants will discuss practical aspects of identification and documentation as well as the development of necessary infrastructure to accommodate migrants on their way to their country of origin. Special attention will be paid to the issue of voluntary return and its advantages over forced return as well as existing possibilities for states and the international community to work towards sustainable reintegration of returning migrants.

The discussion will be led by an expert from Moldova who advised on and implemented readmission procedures for the country’s ministries.

“The negotiation and implementation of readmission agreements is a relatively new for Kazakhstan area in international co-operation, and common approaches of different state institutions towards organizational and legal aspects are still to be developed”, said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of OSCE Centre in Astana. ”This seminar, therefore, aims to promote an exchange of experience and best practices in the return management of irregular migrants”.

Yerkin Baibatchin, Deputy Director of the Department of Migration Police at the Interior Ministry said: “The procedures for readmission are relatively new legal institutions for Kazakhstan. This seminar is important because we have signed a number of agreements on the readmission of persons, but we do not have much practical experience in this area and we anticipate the ratification of forthcoming agreements.”

The seminar is a part of the Centre in Astana's activities to address irregular migration and guarantee the migrants’ rights and freedoms.