From March 2011 to December 2012 IOM Bratislava implements the project Return and Reintegration Assistance to Unsuccessful Asylum Seekers and Irregular Migrants from Slovakia to Countries of Origin III. The project is funded by the European Union from the European Return Fund and co-funded by the Ministry of Interior.

Voluntary returns originated as a response of governments to the need of the states to provide illegal migrants and unsuccessful asylum seekers with a safe, humane and cost-effective option of return and reintegration in their country of origin and form an indispensable part of the EU return policy.

The target groups of this project are:

• Asylum seekers, both pending and rejected;
• Irregular migrants in the facilities of the Ministry of Interior;
• Undetected irregular migrants living in Slovakia;
• Migrants under subsidiary protection, who opt for voluntary return and have not acquired a new nationality.

The project rests on three pillars:

• Provision of information and counselling regarding assisted voluntary returns and reintegration assistance;
• Practical implementation of assisted voluntary returns;
• Improving the situation of returnees in the countries of origin through reintegration assistance.

This project is a follow-up on the first and second phase of the project Return and Reintegration Assistance to Unsuccessful Asylum Seekers and Irregular Migrants from Slovakia to Countries of Origin, aimed at the promotion and practical implementation of assisted voluntary returns and reintegration assistance.

Information Campaign on Assisted Voluntary Returns

Migrants’ awareness of the option to voluntary return is the basic precondition for their decision to return with IOM. The proposed project plans to carry out the well-established activities ensuring adequate informing of migrants. These are mainly:

• Information meetings with migrants, representatives of migrant communities and members of Border and Alien Police Departments;
• Distribution of information materials to the facilities of the Ministry of Interior, Border and Alien Police Departments, NGOs, embassies of countries of origin which migrants frequently contact with requests for assistance when having problems abroad, and other institutions;
• Low cost 0850 211 262 helpline;
• Website avr.iom.sk in selected languages.

Implementation of Assisted Voluntary Returns

Migrants who choose to return home with IOM and are registered in the assisted voluntary return are offered the following services:

• Informing about program a individual counselling;
• Registration into the programme;
• Provision of travel documents;
• Logistics of return;
• Arranging of departure, transit and reception assistance for transport from the airport in the country of origin to the final address;
• Provision of financial allowance;
• Arranging of accommodation and health care.

Reintegration in the country of origin

In order to decrease the vulnerability of returnees following their return and to make the return more sustainable, IOM provides post-return reintegration assistance as a part of the return package. The assistance includes activities which enable migrants to gain a source of income, e.g. through implemented business plans; to increase their qualification and thus to improve their chances of finding employment; or to resolve their immediate situation following the return, e.g. through arranging of accommodation. The assistance is useful not only for the migrant, but contributes to regional and community development (e.g. by offering services, employment of additional staff, etc.).

The types of assistance may include:

• Material assistance (procurement of tools, animals, etc.);
• Legal assistance;
• Assistance in finding a job;
• Payment for courses and training;
• Micro business assistance;
• Payment for temporary accommodation;
• Payment for healthcare in the country of origin;
• Other forms identified during the project implementation.

The assistance includes pre-departure reintegration counselling aiming at the identification of client’s needs and drafting of a reintegration scheme, assistance with the implementation of reintegration schemes in the country of origin and subsequent monitoring of the implemented schemes in cooperation with IOM missions in the countries of origin