Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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Transcript of Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
1Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the migrants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM and the interviewed migrants do not accept any liability for any loss or damage which may arise from the reliance on information contained in this publication. All migrants featured in this booklet have given their consent for the publication. When requested, fictitious names have been used to protect their privacy. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well‐being of migrants. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Publisher: International Organization for Migration Skippergata 33 0154 Oslo, Norway Tel: +47 23 10 53 20 E‐mail: [email protected] Internet: www.iom.no
© 2014 International Organization for Migration (IOM) http://www.iom.no
2Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Acknowledgements
IOM Norway expresses its deepest gratitude to the migrants who contributed to
this report. Their experiences with the return and reintegration process are
essential for IOM to continue to develop and improve the assistance provided to
vulnerable migrants who return to their countries of origin. IOM Norway would
furthermore like to thank the staff at IOM offices in countries of origin who
conducted the monitoring on our behalf. Lastly, IOM Norway expresses its
gratitude to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) for the funding for
the report and the return and reintegration project for vulnerable migrants.
3Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 5
THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MIGRATION (IOM) .......................... 6
THE VULNERABLE GROUPS PROJECT ............................................................... 7
REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE FOR VULNERABLE MIGRANTS .............................................. 8
MIGRANT EXPERIENCES WITH RETURN AND REINTEGRATION ...................... 10
SITUATION IN NORWAY PRIOR TO RETURN ................................................................. 12
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION IN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN .................................... 12
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ..................................................................................... 13
AGED‐OUT MINORS .............................................................................................. 15
VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING ........................................................................................ 16
MIGRANTS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS ............................................................................ 16
OTHER VULNERABLE MIGRANTS ............................................................................... 17
OVERALL RETURN EXPERIENCES ............................................................................... 18
IOM’S RETURN AND REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE ....................................................... 23
STORIES OF RETURN .................................................................................... 25
IBRAHIM FROM BENIN ............................................................................................ 26
ESMERALDA FROM ALBANIA .................................................................................... 27
FLORENTIN FROM ALBANIA ..................................................................................... 28
XENIA FROM CHILE ................................................................................................ 29
ARTAN FROM KOSOVO ........................................................................................... 30
ASO AND SARA FROM IRAQ ..................................................................................... 31
AYMAR FROM BURUNDI ......................................................................................... 32
LINA AND LIUBOV FROM UKRAINE ............................................................................ 33
ATIQ FROM BANGLADESH ....................................................................................... 34
AHMED FROM TUNISIA ........................................................................................... 35
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................... 36
4Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
5Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Introduction
The decision to return home is challenging. Many things may have changed at
home since leaving, and for most migrants return is not the preferred option.
Migrants in all life situations are faced with the difficult decision of whether to
return home voluntarily. Many migrants have specific needs in the return and
reintegration process, and therefore need individually‐tailored support to be
able to re‐establish a life at home. In order to support migrants in particularly
vulnerable situations, IOM Norway has a separate project for the return and
reintegration of vulnerable migrants. Vulnerable migrants may be children who
came to Norway without their parents, women or men who have been victims
of violence, exploitation or trafficking, migrants with medical needs or elderly
migrants who have no family to support them in country of origin.
This report aims to shed light on the return and reintegration process of
migrants who returned with the Vulnerable Groups Project. It presents their
experiences and illustrates both the opportunities and challenges involved in
the reintegration process. The report discusses migrants’ economic and social
reintegration, as well as the experiences of migrants concerning the
reintegration assistance provided by IOM through the Vulnerable Groups
Project. By presenting a nuanced and realistic picture of migrants’ experiences,
IOM aims to contribute to a better understanding of the return process for
vulnerable migrants.
The large majority of the vulnerable migrants who shared their experiences for
this report were glad they made the decision to return home. Almost all minors
continued their education upon return and most adult migrants either started a
business or engaged in other income‐generating activities. However, this does
not imply that the reintegration process was without challenges. Most of the
migrants are still facing financial difficulties and many found it hard to re‐adapt
to their local communities. The support of family has been essential for most of
migrants in the return progress. Furthermore, the reintegration support
provided by IOM has been crucial in order to re‐establish a new life at home.
However, there is still room for improving the assistance provided. This will be
discussed in the recommendations part at the end of the report.
6Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
The International Organization of Migration (IOM)
IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and
was established in 1951. At present, IOM has 157 member states and offices in
more than 140 countries with 8,400 staff members employed worldwide. IOM
globally is involved in a broad range of migration‐related areas such as
humanitarian emergencies, resettlement assistance, migration health, assisted
voluntary return and reintegration, counter‐trafficking, labour migration and
migration and development. Norway has been a member of IOM since 1951,
and IOM Norway was established in 2002 upon the request of the Norwegian
Government. Presently, IOM Norway runs a programme for Voluntary Assisted
Return for asylum seekers and irregular migrants and a Cultural Orientation
Programme for quota refugees who are accepted for resettlement in Norway.
Since 2006, IOM has initiated a number of reintegration projects to support
migrants in the return process. Due to IOM’s large number of offices
worldwide, the organization is in a unique position to provide reintegration
support to migrants who return to their countries of origin. The Voluntary
Assisted Return Programme and the reintegration projects are financed by the
Norwegian Ministry of Justice and administered by the Norwegian Directorate
of Immigration (UDI).
7Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
The Vulnerable Groups Project
The Vulnerable Groups Project offers information, return and reintegration
assistance for vulnerable migrants in Norway. The project was initiated in mid‐
2012 to provide individually‐tailored support and reintegration assistance for
migrants in particularly vulnerable situations.1 The Vulnerable Groups Project
assists victims of trafficking, unaccompanied minors, aged‐out minors, migrants
with medical needs and other migrants in particularly vulnerable situations. See
below for a more comprehensive overview.
Vulnerability Profiles in the Vulnerable Groups Project
Victims of trafficking: men, women and children exploited for labour and prostitution purposes or other forms of human trafficking.
Unaccompanied minors: children under the age of 18 who came to Norway without their parents or other appointed care persons.
Aged‐out minors: young adults between 18 and 23 years old who came to Norway as unaccompanied minors.
Migrants with medical needs: migrants with comprehensive medical needs upon return who need additional reintegration support to receive adequate medical treatment in country of origin.
Other vulnerable migrants: victims of violence, exploitation and abuse, victims of domestic violence, victims of forced marriage and elderly migrants without family network in home country. This category is not exhaustive and other migrants in highly vulnerable situations can be considered eligible for support under the project.
Vulnerability is highly context‐dependent. A person can be vulnerable in
country of origin before migrating, in transit, in destination country or upon
return in home country. In the Vulnerable Groups Project, the main emphasis is
on vulnerability upon return. Victims of trafficking and other victims of violence
or exploitation are particularly vulnerable due to their past experiences and the
__________________ 1 IOM Norway previously offered separate projects for unaccompanied minors and victims of
trafficking.
8Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
potential risk of being exploited or abused again in the future. Unaccompanied
minors and aged‐out minors are particularly vulnerable due to their young age.
Other migrants are particularly vulnerable because of specific conditions upon
return. As an example a migrant with medical needs will be particularly
vulnerable upon return without access to adequate health care in country of
origin. Another migrant with the same medical situation who returns to a
country with a strong health care system will be less vulnerable. Similarly, an
elderly migrant is more vulnerable if returning without any family network,
than if the person has family members in country of origin who can provide
support.
Reintegration Assistance for Vulnerable Migrants
All migrants who return with the Vulnerable Groups Project receive 7,800 USD
in reintegration support. The reintegration support is given to the migrant after
return and is administered by IOM in the country of origin in coordination with
IOM Norway. The aim of the reintegration support is to enhance the social and
economic reintegration process for the returnee. The reintegration support
aims to be as sustainable as possible by improving the person’s possibilities of
economic self‐sufficiency. Reintegration support is normally given over a time
period of twelve months and most of the support is given in‐kind (for payment
of services and goods) with the exception of a smaller cash amount. The in‐kind
support allows for the migrant to plan for the future and to focus on long‐term
objectives towards further education or creating an economic livelihood.
Furthermore, in‐kind reintegration support reduces the migrant’s vulnerability,
as large amounts of cash can make returnees more vulnerable upon return.
9Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Reintegration Support for Vulnerable Migrants
Accommodation support (USD 1,500) to secure accommodation in the first period after return. The support can be used to cover rent, purchase materials for restructuring, restoration or renovation, and cover the cost of shelter/guesthouse/care centre or basic furniture and housing equipment.
Education, vocational training, business start‐up or employment support (USD 4,500) aims at enhancing migrants’ economic self‐sufficiency. The migrant decides on the preferred form of support according to skills, interests and their particular situation. The support can cover educational expenses, vocational training, business start‐up support or a work placement.
Medical support (USD 300) can be used for medical treatment, medicines, doctor/dentist appointments or counselling.
Subsistence allowance (USD 1,500) is for food, clothes, transport, hygienic products, replacement of lost identity documents and other immediate needs. The subsistence allowance is given in cash apart from for minors who receive the support as in‐kind support or cash administered by parents/responsible adult.
Vulnerable migrants are not one homogenous category, and the reintegration
assistance given to vulnerable migrants is adapted to their individual skills,
needs and situation. Prior to return, the migrant prepares a reintegration plan
for how to use the support in cooperation with IOM Norway and IOM in
country of origin. This process both mentally and practically prepares the
migrant for return and enables the person to take ownership of future plans.
Experience illustrates that many migrants make changes in the reintegration
plan once they have returned to their home country as local conditions may
have changed and they receive advice from family and friends in country of
origin. Migrants are encouraged to take their time with regards to future plans
in order to decide on the best way to make use of the reintegration support.
10Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Migrant Experiences with Return and Reintegration
In the first 18 months of the Vulnerable Groups Project, 50 vulnerable migrants
returned with IOM. The situation of these migrants varied greatly in terms of
vulnerability profile, nationality, age and past experiences. See below overview
for the nationalities and profile of the vulnerable migrants who returned with
the project.
Vulnerable Migrants who Returned from 1 July 2012 ‐ 31 December 2013
Vulnerability Category
Number Country of Origin
Total Females
Total Males
Depen‐ dents
Victims of trafficking
12 Romania, Nigeria and Nepal
7 5 0
Unaccom‐panied minors
15 Iraq, Albania, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tunisia, Kenya, Serbia, Kosovo and Ukraine
5 10
Aged‐out minors
3 Kosovo, Bosnia Herzegovina and Pakistan
2 1
Migrants with medical needs
8 Nepal, Serbia, Benin, China, Burundi, Bangladesh, Turkey and Uzbekistan
1 7
Other vulnerable migrants
12 Chile, Albania, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Guatemala and Colombia
6 0 6
Total 50 21 23 6
11Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Twenty‐five out of the 50 vulnerable migrants who returned with the
Vulnerable Groups Project wanted to share their experiences with return and
reintegration for this report. Among the vulnerable migrants represented there
are:
13 unaccompanied minors
2 aged‐out minors
2 victims of trafficking
3 migrants with medical needs
5 other vulnerable migrants (2 of whom were the children of a vulnerable
migrant)
The migrants in the report are from the following countries; Iraq, Chile, Albania,
Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, Benin, Burundi, Kosovo, Bangladesh, Tunisia,
Kenya, Romania, Nepal, Pakistan and Ukraine. Among the other migrants who
returned under the project, seven did not wish to share their experiences in the
report and another five had re‐emigrated at the time of monitoring. The
remaining 13 were unreachable when IOM attempted to contact them.
Due to the large diversity among the returnees and the limited number of
respondents, it is difficult to draw any general conclusions based on their
experiences. This is furthermore problematic by the fact that the returnees are
at different stages of the reintegration process. While some returned about two
years ago, others returned only six months prior to monitoring and are still
receiving reintegration support. Accounting for the limitations discussed, this
report nevertheless aims to present migrants’ experiences with return and
reintegration and shed light on the opportunities and challenges involved. The
nationalities of respondents are protected in the general discussion as there are
relatively few returnees from each country (often only one) and a number of
the individuals wished to remain completely anonymous. Ten ‘Stories of Return’
are also presented towards the end of the report in order to give an insight into
the experiences of individual returnees.
12Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Situation in Norway Prior to Return
Most of the migrants had lived in Norway for one to five years prior to
returning. Five of the migrants had spent more than ten years in different
countries before coming to Norway, however most came directly to Norway.
Three minors from Kosovo and Albania had only been in Norway for about six
months by the time they returned. The reasons for coming to Norway were
diverse and the migrants expressed that there were a number of factors
interplaying in their decision. Most commonly the migrants cited family already
living in Norway, security and job opportunities as the most important reasons.
Other reasons were human rights, Norway being a rich country and the good
educational system. One of the migrants had not chosen to travel to Norway,
but had been assisted by a smuggler without knowing country of destination.
The migrants’ legal status in Norway prior to return varied, however the
majority had applied for asylum and had received a final rejection to their
asylum application. Among the migrants who did not apply for asylum in
Norway, two came on a tourist visa, one on a work visa and one was an
irregular migrant in Norway. All migrants explained that they would have stayed
in Norway if they could have legalized their stay. Consequently, the decision to
return home was largely motivated by not being able to stay in Norway. The
other main factor influencing their decision was the reintegration assistance
offered by IOM. Sixteen of the migrants specifically noted that the reintegration
assistance influenced their decision to return. Other influential factors were
family in home country, the difficulties of finding work in Norway, nostalgia
about home country, lack of access to social services, problems of integration,
fear of deportation and their financial situation in Norway. The various different
factors often interplayed in the decision to return.
Economic and Social Reintegration in Country of Origin
The primary intention of the reintegration assistance is to enhance economic
reintegration in country of origin, and thereby support a more sustainable
reintegration process. As part of the reintegration assistance under the
Vulnerable Groups Project, migrants can decide to start a business, undertake a
work placement, continue further education or undergo vocational training.
13Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Among the 25 migrants:
13 are under education (at school or attending vocational education)
6 are small business owners, 1 is employed and 1 takes on irregular work
3 persons are not engaged in any work or study‐related activity (of which
1 is unemployed, 1 recently finished high school and 1 is elderly and does
not work)
Current Occupational Status Number of Migrants
Primary school 5
High school student 6
Training course/occupational training 3
Business owner 6
Irregular work/seasonal worker 1
Employee 1
Unemployed 22
Retired 1
Total 25
In addition to economic reintegration, social factors play an important role in
the reintegration process. Family and other social networks in country of origin,
the migrant’s ability to adapt to the social and cultural environment and the
specific situations returnees are faced with upon return all shape their
experiences. While some experiences with return and reintegration are
common among all vulnerable migrants, others are specific for the different
vulnerability categories and are therefore discussed separately. The following
sections discuss the experiences with regards to both economic and social
reintegration for the different categories of vulnerable migrants.
Unaccompanied Minors
Thirteen unaccompanied minors shared their experiences for the report. The
minors were between 7 and 17 years old at the time of return, however the
majority were 16 or 17 years old. All minors returned to live with their family
members. The majority live with both of their parents, five with their mother
__________________ 2 One recently finished high school and wishes to continue with further education.
14Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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and one minor lives with his uncle. Most of them are still at either primary or
secondary school or undertaking some form of training course or occupational
training. Two are no longer at school; one turned 18 after returning and has
since started a small business and the other dropped out of secondary
schooling, but plans to continue his studies in the future. Among the minors
who are still at school, most feel strengthened with regards to their future, but
still need time to complete their education. One minor expressed: “I need time
to be economically independent, I need more education.” Yet, some also worry
about future employment possibilities. One minor explained: “Seeing the high
number of unemployment in my country and the limited time of my
reintegration support, I do not feel comfortable and economically self‐sustained.
Firstly I should complete secondary school and then trainings.”
In general, the minors expressed that they were glad to be back with their
families and their parents played an important role both with regards to moral,
practical and financial support. One of the minors stated: “My parents
welcomed me and I have a very strong relationship with them.” Another
expressed that “my father stood by me in every decision.” However, the process
of being reunited with family was not without challenges for all. Two
experienced negative reactions from their parents upon return due to the
family’s financial problems, which made the process of re‐establishing daily life
with their families challenging.
As all the minors live with their families and most of them are still under
education, the aim of the reintegration support is primarily to enhance the
minors’ future possibilities. However, most of the minors’ families are in
relatively poor financial situations. While the reintegration support given to
minors is mainly intended to benefit the minor directly, it can also benefit the
family as a whole and thereby ease the financial difficulties of the family. Three
minors spent parts of the reintegration support towards a family business, and
the families thereby increased their income‐generating possibilities. As an
example, one of the minors explained that “now I can depend on our business
and all of us are benefiting from it, and our economic situation is not bad” and
another stated that “the family can now satisfy its needs with what it earns
15Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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from the business.” For the majority of the minors, most of the reintegration
support was spent on further education.
The housing support was generally used on improving housing conditions for
the whole family, such as repairing works or the purchase of necessary
furniture or housing equipment. Only two minors explained that the
reintegration support only or mostly benefited them. In general, the minors
were glad to be re‐united with their parents and the reintegration support
seemed to have helped ease the reintegration process back into their families.
Most minors did not experience any problems upon return, yet some faced
challenges. As already mentioned, two had challenges with their family due to
the family’s financial difficulties. Another two had problems at school with
teachers and classmates, but received close support from their mother to find a
solution to the problems. Despite these challenges, all apart from one were
glad that they made the decision to return. One minor explained that
“somehow I lost much time in my life” and now he finally has the possibility to
continue with his life. The minor who regrets returning worries about the
family’s financial situation and future work opportunities, and believes that he
may have made a mistake when he returned.
Aged‐out Minors
The two aged‐out minors who shared their experiences for this report were 18
and 20 years old at the time of return. They both had family in country of origin
and in particular one of them received much support from family members
upon return. One of the aged‐out minors spent the reintegration support on a
business start‐up and is currently running a small car business. According to
him, the reintegration support has been highly useful and since returning he
has at least managed to become partly financially independent. The other aged‐
out minor spent the reintegration support on education and recently
completed high school. She plans to continue studying, but has not yet started.
For her the reintegration support has been very important and she expressed
that “I especially appreciated the support for education, through it I completed
high school.” One of the aged‐out minors are glad to have made the decision to
return, while the other one is indifferent and is of the opinion that life was
much better in Norway.
16Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Victims of Trafficking
Victims of trafficking are in need of close support in the return process due to
their past experiences of exploitation. Relatively few victims of trafficking were
willing to share their experiences for this report. The issue of trafficking is
associated with much stigma and the returnees were afraid that their stories
would be recognized. Only two victims of trafficking agreed to be monitored.
Both used the reintegration support to start up a small business. One has
managed to provide her family with a secure income from farming activities
and is completely financially independent, while the other recently established
a clothing business and has not yet managed to secure a steady income based
on the business activities.
For victims of trafficking a potential concern is the risk of re‐trafficking upon
return. None of the monitored victims of trafficking were worried about the risk
of re‐trafficking prior to or after return. Both re‐established close contact with
their families and have not been in contact with the traffickers since they came
back to their home countries. However, both have kept a low profile with
regards to their trafficking experiences. One of the victims has not told her
family about her experiences in Norway and her family believes she was
working legally in Norway. The two returnees both note that the support from
IOM made them less vulnerable with regards to potential future exploitation as
they were better informed and more economically resilient with the help of the
reintegration assistance.
Migrants with Medical Needs
The three migrants who shared their experiences for the report had greatly
different medical needs upon return. One of the migrants had amputations, one
had mental health problems and the last person had reduced eyesight and was
in need of eye surgery. For the migrants with medical needs, a larger part of the
in‐kind reintegration support was allocated to medical treatment upon return.
The migrants with medical needs have received the medical treatment needed,
however they all report on difficulties with regards to the health care system.
As an example, one of the migrants with medical needs had problems finding
the particular medicine he used in Norway and he had to buy medicines from a
neighbouring country. Another was concerned prior to return since there were
17Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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few treatment options nearby his village. He could seek treatment in a larger
city, but this was far from his home. However once he returned, he received the
medical treatment he needed despite the limited treatment options. The last
person was in need of eye surgery upon return and initially faced difficulties
finding adequate treatment, but has since undergone the operation needed to
improve his eyesight.
In addition to the medical treatment, all three started up a business with the
help of the reintegration assistance. One started a clothing business, one
purchased a taxi and the last person attempted to start cattle farming. Due to
their medical expenses the migrants had less support available to start‐up
businesses or engage in other income‐generating activities.3 All of them noted
that the reintegration support was not adequate to re‐establish themselves in
their country of origin. Additionally, all migrants with medical needs returned to
families who were unable to support them financially. On the contrary, all three
had financial responsibilities towards their families. Despite the financial
difficulties and the challenges with regards to medical treatment, migrants with
medical needs were glad they had made the decision to return to their country
of origin. They all explained that they are particularly happy to be re‐united
with their families.
Other Vulnerable Migrants
The other vulnerable migrants who were monitored for the report had different
vulnerabilities upon return. One was an elderly migrant without family network
in country of origin, one was a victim of exploitation and the last was a victim of
domestic violence who returned with her two children. The elderly migrant is
retired and does not engage in any income‐generating activities. Among the
two others, one started up a small business, but is still looking for additional
employment and receives financial support from her family. The other is
employed and her two children go to school.
__________________ 3 The reintegration support within the Vulnerable Groups Project is flexible according to the needs of the individual migrant. Migrants with medical needs mostly use a larger amount on medical support than indicated in the overview on page 9, however the total reintegration support remains the same.
18Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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Only one of the migrants in this vulnerability category returned to her family.
She has received close support from family members in the reintegration
process. Two of the other vulnerable migrants did not have family in country of
origin to support them upon return. The elderly woman had no family in
country of origin, and she clearly expressed the challenges of returning without
any family to support her. The other returnee had family in country of origin,
however due to a disagreement she did not contact them upon arrival. She had
the responsibility for two children and had to struggle to manage life on her
own. The three migrants had different feelings with regards to the decision to
return. One was glad she returned, one had mixed feelings and the last
regretted the decision and would like to join her relatives in Europe.
Overall Return Experiences
Most of the returnees are still in the process of re‐adapting to life in their home
country and still work towards securing an adequate income for themselves and
their families. Approximately half of the migrants (48 percent) find that their
quality of life after return is better than in Norway, 44 percent find it worse and
8 percent believe it is the same. Despite this, the large majority (85 percent) of
the migrants believe they made the right decision when they returned. Most
noted that even though they are facing difficulties in their daily life they are at
least reunited with their family. Family clearly plays an essential part in the
migrants’ reintegration process and 80 percent of the returnees stated that
their family members at home were a considerable support in the reintegration
process.
The majority of the migrants expressed that they did not receive any negative
reactions or stigma from family members or the local community, however
many faced other challenges upon return. Among those who experienced
negative reactions, one felt that the local community believed that he had
“wasted his time” and came back as a failure. The most commonly noted
difficulties were adaptation to social and cultural environment, inadequate
health care systems, financial difficulties and lack of work opportunities. Five
returnees also noted difficulties with regards to political, security issues, access
to housing and basic needs and retrieving identity documents. 22 percent of the
returnees reported that they found it challenging to adapt to their social and
19Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
cultural environment. This was mentioned both among returnees who had
been out of their country of origin for a number of years and those who had
been away from their home country for less than a year. It appears that
regardless of age and time out of home country, the process of re‐adaption to
local conditions was challenging for many.
As previously mentioned, the overall intention of the reintegration support is to
support migrants’ economic livelihood or future income‐generating
possibilities. The large majority of adult returnees (80 percent) are involved in
income‐generating activities and all minors apart from one are currently
enrolled in education. However, as the experiences from the different
vulnerability categories illustrate, many still face financial challenges and are
still only partially financially independent. A number of the adult returnees are
also in a situation of being the primary income providers in their families which
adds an additional financial burden. Despite the nuanced picture presented, all
migrants express that the reintegration assistance under the Vulnerable Groups
Project has been useful or very useful to be able to re‐establish a new life in
their home country. The returnees also note that the reintegration support is
important with regards to their possibilities of becoming economically self‐
sustained in the future. 92 percent of the migrants stated that the reintegration
support will fully or to some extent help them become financially self‐sufficient
in the future. Overall, the reintegration assistance remained a highly important
element in their return process. On the following page, there are quotes from
some of the returnees that illustrate the importance of the reintegration
support provided by IOM.
The reintegration assistance aims to create the grounds for a durable return
where migrants are able to re‐establish a life in country of origin. The majority
of the migrants (72 percent) state that they intend to stay in their country of
origin for now.4 A few of the migrants did not know whether they would stay in
their home country at the time of return, but have since had a change of mind.
One migrant explained “I did not know at that time. I wanted to see first, then __________________ 4 12 percent do not know and 16 percent would definitely want to re‐emigrate in the future.
20Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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“The reintegration grant was very useful. My family was going through economic hardship so it helped us a lot in improving our income
generating resources.”
‐ minor
“The reintegration grant was very important as through it I could pay my rent of the house, improve my professional skills, find a job and provide
essential needs for my children.”
‐ victim of domestic violence
“In general it was useful, but I especially appreciated the support for education, through it I completed high school.”
‐ minor
“Without IOM reintegration money I could not feed my children and carry on my family in my home country.”
‐ migrant with medical needs
“It gave me an opportunity to establish a business from where I can generate income in the future.”
‐ victim of trafficking
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International Organization for Migration
make a decision.” Another expressed that: “I intended to stay for some months
and then leave. But now I am at the end of my high school studies in my home
village. I think I will start a job later on.” Some migrants will consider the option
of re‐emigrating if they get the possibility to work or study in another country
at a later stage, but they do not have any concrete plans of re‐emigrating. One
migrant explained that it could be possible to leave again, but “if I ever would
migrate, I would do it for education purposes.” Upon the question of what
would make the returnees re‐emigrate, there are several, often overlapping
reasons, but most often the returnees state that it would be due to new work
or educational opportunities, the lack of work possibilities in country of origin
or due to better access to social services and health care. Other reasons given
are security and difficultly adapting to home country.
The process of re‐establishing a life and livelihood in countries of origin is a long
process for many returnees. Many have been away from their countries of
origin for several years and face specific challenges upon return due to their
vulnerabilities. Despite this, most have clear plans and goals for the future as
illustrated in the mind map on the following page.
22Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Migrants’ Plans for the Future
23Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
IOM’s Return and Reintegration Assistance
All migrants apart from one expressed that they were pleased with the overall
return and reintegration assistance provided by IOM. One of the migrants
explained that “Everything was in place, same as I was promised and told. I
have only good impressions.” Most also stated that their vulnerable situation
was taken into account and that their case was given extra attention by IOM
due to their vulnerability. One returnee expressed that: “I felt that my case was
handled with extra care due to the mistreatment experiences. My case was well
taken care of with extra sensitivity and attention at all stages of assistance.”
The migrant that was not satisfied expressed that the return process was not
good enough due to the long waiting time before the travel itself was
organized.
Among the monitored migrants, 92 percent expressed that they received
enough information and counselling to be able to make an informed choice
about voluntary assisted return and reintegration. One of the migrants
explained that “the information provided to me was quite appropriate and
helped me a lot in making the right decision.” Furthermore, 96 percent felt that
they received adequate information prior to return and that they were well
informed about conditions at home prior to making the decision. The migrants’
sources of information were often multiple, ranging from family in country of
origin, friends, staff at reception centres, legal guardians and IOM. However,
one migrant also explained that there was not enough information and stated
that “I do not know if I received enough information to decide for voluntary
return. I think now that I was wrong.” With regards to the reintegration
assistance, 88 percent of the migrants explained that they had received enough
counselling about the reintegration process and that the counselling helped
them prepare for their future. One returnee explained that “the information
about the reintegration support was concise and helped me to get an insight in
how it worked.” A few returnees misunderstood the intention of reintegration
support. As an example, one IOM office reported that one of the minors initially
was confused regarding his reintegration support and “he was thinking that he
could reimburse his father's expenses for the trip to Norway.” Most migrants
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International Organization for Migration
state that they are satisfied with the support they received from IOM in their
home country. While the financial aspect of the reintegration support is
important, the practical and moral support is also an essential part of the
reintegration assistance. One returnee expressed that the return process was
“good, but emotionally hard and support from IOM staff was appreciated.”
The migrants were also asked to provide IOM with feedback in order to identify
areas of improvement. In general, the migrants expressed gratitude towards
the work of IOM, for example one stated that “I ask IOM to continue supporting
migrants and not stop this assistance” and yet again one returnee expressed
gratitude by saying: “For me, IOM was one of the best things I ever know and I'll
never forget what IOM did for me and my family.” Some returnees also
provided IOM with suggestions to improve the assistance. The feedback varied
depending on the specific challenges faced during the reintegration process,
but among the recommendations were the need for more business start‐up
training prior to return, assistance with finding work in country of origin, need
to increase the business start‐up support, need for more psychosocial care in
country of origin, more information on available medicines and less paperwork
and easier procedures with regards to paying out reintegration support.
The in‐kind reintegration support given in the Vulnerable Groups Project
requires close cooperation between the returnee, IOM in country of origin and
IOM Norway. Since the reintegration support is given in services and goods
rather than in cash, there are a number of procedures to complete in order to
receive the financial support. While the intention of these procedures is to
assist the returnee in the reintegration process and prevent misuse of funds,
some migrants found the process challenging and time‐consuming. Another
challenging aspect is the distance from the returnees’ home to the IOM office.
While IOM offices for the most part are situated in capitals and large cities,
migrants return to both urban and rural areas. For returnees who live a long
distance from an IOM office, most of the contact between the IOM office and
the returnee takes place on the phone, over email or mail correspondence.
Both the returnees and IOM missions report that this is a challenge, however,
they explain that they manage to find satisfactory solutions to providing
reintegration assistance by distance.
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International Organization for Migration
Stories of Return
The migrants who returned under the Vulnerable Groups Project all have their
individual stories. The following accounts aim to shed light on the individual
experiences with the return and reintegration process. Both the positive and
negative aspects of their experiences are presented as the stories aim to
provide a realistic picture of the returnees’ experiences. The stories presented
are from all categories of vulnerable migrants apart from victims of trafficking
who did not want to share their individual stories. Some of the return stories
have the returnees’ full name and picture upon their consent, while others have
wished to remain completely anonymous and are therefore given fictional
names5.
__________________ 5 Fictional names marked with *
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Ibrahim from Benin
Ibrahim is from a small village in the north of Benin. He left his village and spent
four years of his life in Europe. In Norway, he stayed at a reception centre and
he faced health problems and many challenges. He decided to return because
his asylum application was rejected and because the difficulties in Norway had
a negative impact on his mental health.
Ibrahim returned to his village in Benin where his wife and two children were
waiting for him. He did not have any formal education, but his father had been
involved in cattle farming and he thereby had much knowledge about cattle
from his childhood. Ibrahim spent most of the reintegration support to
establish a small cattle business. Unfortunately, some of the cattle died and
Ibrahim had to sell the rest. He
is now working as a car mover
and a sweeper at a bus station,
and he is trying to save up
money to buy a truck to start
up a transportation business.
Ibrahim and his wife have taken
on the responsibility for his
brother’s four children, and the
family is in a challenging
financial situation.
Ibrahim and his family live a far
distance from the IOM office which made reintegration support more
challenging. But Ibrahim is grateful for all the support he received from IOM.
Despite the challenges faced after returning to Benin, he is glad that he
returned. Life in the reception centre was hard and he was afraid that he would
never see his family again. He now explains that “Life is better than in Norway.
It is still difficult here, but I have my family near me.”
27Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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Esmeralda from Albania
Esmeralda and her two children spent more than ten years outside of Albania.
They lived in Greece for most of that time, but Esmeralda’s husband was
abusive and she eventually left him and came to Norway with her children.
They stayed in a reception centre for ten months, but they did not feel at ease
living at a centre with unknown people. She decided to return to Albania when
her asylum application was rejected, but it was a
difficult choice since she and her children had not
lived in Albania for a long time.
She decided to re‐establish her life with her two
children in Tirana where she had more
opportunities. Her parents lived in another part of
Albania, but she was not in contact with them due
to a family conflict. In the beginning it was hard to adapt to life in Albania and
she wanted to return to Norway. Her children also struggled at school since
they did not read or write Albanian very well. Esmeralda used the reintegration
support to rent an apartment, support her children’s education, take a training
course and do a work placement at a culinary business to improve her
professional skills. She also received support from a
local NGO to cope with her difficult past experiences
of domestic violence.
Esmeralda is currently working at a bakery and as a
cleaner. She explains that it is difficult to accept the
low wages in Albania and she needs to have more
than one job to manage the family’s daily expenses.
Despite the challenges she has faced upon return, her life is gradually improving
and Esmeralda believes that life in better in Albania than at the reception
centre in Norway. She has improved the relationship with her parents and her
children have settled in well and have made many friends. Esmeralda is grateful
for the support she received from IOM. The reintegration support was of a
great help and essential to re‐establish her life in Albania. She explains, “I feel
happy with what IOM offered, not only financially, but also morally for me and
my children. We have been lucky to have had IOM’s support all the time.”
28Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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Florentin* from Albania
Florentin came to Norway as an unaccompanied minor. His family in Albania
had a conflict with another family and they were in a difficult financial situation.
Florentin stayed six months at a reception centre for unaccompanied minors in
Norway. His asylum application was refused and he then decided to apply for
return with IOM. His legal guardian in Norway was an invaluable support in this
decision and gave him a lot of information and
advice about his future possibilities.
Florentin faced difficulties when he first
returned to Albania. His family has been very
supportive since he returned, but the family’s
economic situation was very poor at the time.
Florentin also found it difficult to adapt to the
social and cultural environment in Albania. The
reintegration support helped him and his family improve their financial
situation. The support was mainly spent on his education and the family’s
business. The family bought cows and are now selling milk and other dairy
products. This business has greatly improved the family’s financial situation,
and both Florentin and his family are
grateful for the support provided by
IOM.
Florentin thinks that life was better in
Norway, but he is happy that he
returned as now he is close to his family.
He says that “I am home and with my
family, even though living conditions are
difficult. Of course being home is better
than staying at a reception centre.” When Florentin first returned to Albania, he
intended to stay for some months and then leave again. But now he is
completing high school studies in his home village and he thinks that he will
look for a job in Albania later on.
29Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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Xenia* from Chile
Xenia migrated from Chile to Spain where she worked as a housekeeper and
nanny for a Spanish family. She came with the family to Norway, but they did
not treat her well and she eventually left her work at the family’s house. She
tried to find other work in Norway, but the language barrier and her illegal
status made it impossible.
Xenia then decided to return
to Chile, but after nine years
out of her home country,
she had no idea what she
would do when she
returned. Xenia found it
challenging to adapt to the
social and cultural
environment in Chile when
she first returned. However,
her children and other
family members were in
Chile and they gave her
much moral support in the
beginning.
Most of the reintegration support was spent to start up a small business. She
bought sewing machines and started a sewing micro‐business. She felt
supported by IOM staff who helped her plan the reintegration process and who
understood her vulnerable situation. The reintegration support has assisted her
in the process of reintegrating in the Chilean society, but she still has financial
worries and she is looking for other jobs to improve her income situation.
Despite the challenges, Xenia is glad that she returned to Chile.
30Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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Artan* from Kosovo
Artan came to Norway as an unaccompanied minor and stayed at a reception
centre for unaccompanied minors for four months. He found Norway good, but
he was bored at the reception centre and he missed his family. His asylum
application was rejected and he did not see any other options than returning
with IOM.
Artan returned to live with his parents, but his father and his friends were very
disappointed when he returned after such a short time. Initially, he hoped that
he could spend the reintegration support from IOM to pay back his father’s
expenses for his trip to Norway. According to Artan, IOM showed
understanding for his family
situation and gave him
valuable advice on how to use
the reintegration support.
Artan decided to start an IT‐
course at an institute. He has
since completed several IT‐
courses and hopes it will help
him with find a job in the
future.
Artan is worried about the
high unemployment in Kosovo and he still finds it hard to adapt back into life in
his home country. A part of the reintegration support was used towards
improving the housing situation of the family, but his family is still facing
financial difficulties. He believes that he may have made a mistake when he
decided to return, yet he is grateful for the support received from IOM and he
explains that they gave him courage for further developments in his life.
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Aso* and Sara* from Iraq
Aso and Sara are siblings and came to Norway as unaccompanied minors. Their
brother lives in Norway and they lived together with him. They both enjoyed
life in Norway, but their asylum applications were refused and they then
decided to return to their parents in Iraq.
After almost three years in Norway, they found it difficult to re‐adapt to the
social environment in Iraq. However, they had stayed in close contact with their
parents while in Norway and were glad to be back with their family. Both are
students at high school and want
to continue their education.
The reintegration support was
spent on education, the family’s
sheep business, medicines and
other immediate livings costs. The
support to the family business
made the family more
economically resilient and the
whole family has benefited from
it. The siblings appreciate the reintegration assistance given by IOM, but they
live far away from the IOM office, which complicated the support process. Sara
also faced challenges with finding certain medicines that she used while in
Norway.
The siblings prefer life in Norway, but are happy to be with their family.
However, the security situation in their area is difficult right now, and the family
is worried about what will happen in the future.
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Aymar from Burundi
Aymar left Burundi for security reasons and stayed in Norway for almost six
years. His asylum application was refused and he decided to apply for return
with IOM. Aymar used to work as a truck driver before he came to Norway, but
he had several amputations and it was difficult to work as a driver with his
health limitations.
After so many years out of his home country, Aymar found it difficult to readapt
to the way of life in Burundi. However, Aymar returned to his family and the
family provided him with much moral support in the reintegration process.
Despite his amputations, he could drive an automatic car and he spent most of
the reintegration support to
buy a taxi. The income from
the taxi driving helped him
support his family. He also
spent parts of the support on
medicines due to his health
problems. Aymar initially had
difficulties finding the
medicines he needed in
Burundi and ended up
buying the medicines from a
neighbouring country.
Aymar explained that he received negative reactions from the local community
when he came back. According to Aymar, “We are seen as people who lived in
Europe and who came back to Africa with nothing. People say we lost our time.”
Despite his challenges, Aymar is glad to be back in his home country. His family
is still in a difficult economic situation, but he is glad that he returned and
explains that it is nevertheless, “Better to be poor in your own country.”
33Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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Lina and Liubov from Ukraine
Tamara and Yulia came to Norway as minors. Their father lives in Norway and
they came to live with him. They spent a year and a half in Norway and they
both enjoyed their life. They mastered Norwegian well, made friends and
wanted to continue their studies in Norway. They felt optimistic about the
future and wanted their mother to join them in Norway later on.
Their asylum applications were then
rejected and they decided to return to
Ukraine to live with their mother. While in
Norway, the girls had stayed in close
contact with the mother and had good
knowledge about conditions at home when
they returned. At first, they found it hard to
re‐adapt to life in Ukraine. They recently
graduated from high school, but faced
difficulties with high school programme studies and communication with their
teachers. They lacked some papers to sit entry exams for university and will
have to wait until next year before they can continue their studies at the
university. In the meantime, they are doing an accounting course and would
like to do language courses. The have also spent a part of the reintegration
support on repairing works for the family’s apartment to improve the family’s
housing situation.
The girls explain that their life in Ukraine is more difficult than in Norway due to
the poor socio‐economic conditions and the current unstable political situation
in Ukraine. They are not happy that they returned to Ukraine because they
wanted to stay in Norway, and they do not exclude the possibility of leaving
Ukraine at some point in the future. But for now they want to start university
and get a higher education.
34Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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Atiq from Bangladesh
Atiq left Bangladesh more than 30 years ago. He migrated to India to work and
continued through Pakistan, Iran and Greece before he came to Norway in
2011. He stayed at a reception centre in Norway and hoped that he would be
able to stay in Norway due to his old age. However, his asylum application was
rejected and he then decided to return to Bangladesh.
Atiq has a problem with his eyesight and could not see with his right eye. He
spent the reintegration support on health care, a business start‐up, his
children’s educational expenses and immediate livings costs. He started a
clothing business together with a
business partner. However, due to
his health problems he has not been
able to look after his business, and
his partner has been taking care of
the daily work. Atiq recently had
eye surgery, and after his recovery
he plans to be more involved in his
partnership business.
Atiq is grateful for the support he
has received from IOM and he feels that he received much support both before
he returned to Bangladesh and after he came back. The reintegration assistance
has been somewhat challenging as Atiq lives far from the IOM office in Dhaka,
but he has stayed in good contact with IOM over the phone. Atiq found the
return process good, but expressed that the reintegration support should be
increased. Since he spent a considerable part of his reintegration support on
medical treatment, he had less funds to establish his business.
Atiq explains that he and his family are in a difficult financial situation and he
worries about the future. His family has been very supportive since he returned
to Bangladesh, but they do not have the means to support him financially.
Despite the difficulties, Atiq is glad to be back because now he can pass time
with his wife and three children. According to him, “that is why I am happy.”
35Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
Ahmed from Tunisia*
Ahmed came to Norway after spending about six months in Italy. He applied for
asylum in Norway, but his asylum claim was not assessed as he had a residence
permit in Italy. He found conditions in Norway good, but he disliked the cold
and was in low spirits because he could not achieve his goals. Instead of
returning to Italy, he decided to return with IOM to his home country Tunisia.
Ahmed was received by his parents when he returned. At first he wanted to go
back to Italy as he had a residence permit there, but he then decided to stay in
Tunisia for some time. His family supported him when he came back and his
father gave him advice on how to best make use of the reintegration support.
Ahmed spent most of the reintegration
support on improving the family’s housing
conditions and further education, and he
has been taking courses in English and
German. He also found work and is making
some money to support himself and his
family.
Ahmed thinks that life is better in Tunisia
than in Norway and he is glad that he
returned. He found that reintegration support was highly useful, particularly
with regards to securing the family’s housing situation. Ahmed wishes to leave
Tunisia again in the near future. He still has a valid residence permit in Italy and
wants to go there to study tourism. He worries about being able to find a good
job in the future, but hopes his language courses and tourism studies will help
him.
36Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
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Conclusions and Recommendations
Voluntary assisted return and reintegration brings with it both opportunities
and challenges. While return is most often not the preferred choice for
migrants, it can also be a possibility for migrants to regain control over their
lives and shape their future. The experiences presented in this report clearly
illustrate both the positive and negative aspects of going home. While all
migrants would have stayed in Norway if they had the possibility to legalize
their stay, 85 percent are still glad that they decided to return and feel that they
made the right decision given their situation.
Most migrants who returned under the Vulnerable Groups Project were not
completely economically self‐sustained by the end of the reintegration process.
For the minors, financial independence is not a goal in itself as they invest in
their future by continuing with their education. All minors but one continued at
school or underwent vocational training after return. Additionally, the minors
were reunited with their families and most were glad to be back with their
family. Two of the minors faced difficulties with their families upon return; their
families face financial difficulties and were disappointed when their children
came back from Norway. It appears that the return process was easier for
minors when the family’s overall income‐generating possibilities were
enhanced, which illustrates that the return process for minors must be tailored
to the overall family situation. With regards to the adult returnees, 80 percent
have managed to establish an economic livelihood. However, most still report
that they are struggling to make ends meet financially. All returnees stated that
the reintegration support provided by IOM was important in the process of re‐
establishing a life in their home country and 92 percent expressed that the
reintegration support increased their chances of being financially self‐sustained
in the future. Apart from the reintegration support, family members in country
of origin clearly played an important role in the reintegration process for most
returnees.
This report illustrates that there is room for improvement with regards to the
reintegration assistance provided to vulnerable migrants. Six of the migrants
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International Organization for Migration
started up a small business upon return, of which one of the business start‐ups
were unsuccessful. Among the other five, only one of the business owners has
managed to create a satisfying livelihood from the business activity. While
migrants are given financial support to start a business, there is also a need for
individually‐tailored business training as many of the migrants do not have any
former experience with running a business. Additionally, migrants with
extensive medical needs use a substantial part of the reintegration support
towards medical treatment, and there is consequently less funds available for
creating an economic livelihood. While it is essential for migrants with medical
needs to have access to necessary medical treatment, it is also important to
ensure an economic livelihood in order to enhance a more sustainable return
process.
Information and counselling is important in all stages of the return and
reintegration process. It is crucial that migrants have enough information in
order to make an informed choice about return and it is equally important to
have adequate information about the return process and reintegration
assistance in order to have realistic expectations of what return entails for the
individual. Most of the migrants expressed that they received adequate
information and counselling prior to return to be able to make an informed
choice and to prepare for their future. However, it is still important for IOM to
continue improving information and counselling in order to ensure that return
is organized in an as safe, dignified and durable way as possible. In relation to
minors, experience also illustrates that it is important to counsel the minor’s
family in order to ensure that the family understands the situation of their child
and what assistance IOM can provide in the return process. Additionally, in
relation to migrants who settle in areas far from an IOM office it is important to
ensure that they are aware of how reintegration assistance will be provided
from distance to facilitate the reintegration process.
This report presents the experiences of a limited number of vulnerable migrants
who have returned with IOM. Despite the limited number of experiences
shared, this report nevertheless sheds light on both the challenges and
opportunities inherent in the return and reintegration process for vulnerable
38Going Home: Return and Reintegration for Vulnerable Migrants
International Organization for Migration
migrants. The intention is that this report will be useful for organizations
working with vulnerable migrants and migrants themselves to be able to make
a more informed choice about their future. IOM Norway would again like to
express its gratitude to the migrants who contributed to the report by sharing
their experiences with the process of returning home.