OSCE-supported report recommends revision of state migration strategy and legislation

YEREVAN, 3 July 2007 - The findings of an OSCE Office in Yerevan-supported study on migration legislation and administration in Armenia were discussed at a meeting today attended by experts from key Government and international institutions.

The 50-page report highlights topics such as management of migration flows to and from Armenia, harmonization of border management with international standards, labour migration, data collection, protection and monitoring. It also introduces best practices from other countries, with a special focus on the Czech Republic, which recently reformed its migration laws.

Local and international experts made specific recommendations to improve migration management and enforcement of migration legislation. They suggested better co-ordination of activities in the field of international migration through further consolidation of immigration and emigration legislation, and introducing clear delineation of responsibilities for the various state agencies and departments involved in migration regulation. They also advised the speeding up of the adoption of the Law on Regulation of Overseas Employment.

"This report, together with two Office-commissioned surveys on labour migration from Armenia, conducted by the local non-government organization Advanced Social Technologies, will strengthen the capacity of the national institutions in migration management and will contribute to the protection of migrants' rights," said Sven Holdar, Democratization Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The report, which is available in Armenian and English, was also supported by the British Embassy in Armenia.