Migrant Vulnerabilities and Integration Needs in Central Asia – Assessing migrants’ and community needs and managing risks – Astana, 2017
Astana – The regional eld assessment “Migrant Vulnerabilities and Integration Needs in Central Asia: Assessing migrants’ and community needs and managing risks” (2017) is the fruit of a collaborative e ort of Government officials, a team of international and national experts with the support of the IOM missions in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Geneva and IOM Regional Office for Southeastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia under the auspices of the Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakh- stan (Nazarbayev Center). IOM Kazakhstan, Sub-regional coordination office for Central Asia, had the overall management and coordination of the project. The assessment was made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of IOM and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of IOM or its Member States. The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the work 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 is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration bene ts 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.
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Regional Field assessment 2017 (Phase II) “Migrant Vulnerabilities and Integration Needs in Central Asia: Assessing migrants’ and community needs and managing risks” follows up on a study published in 2016 – “Migrant Vulnerabilities and Integration Needs in Central Asia: Root Causes, Social and Economic Impact of Return Migration” (Phase I), both conducted by a team of national and international experts with support of IOM CA and Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Nazarbayev Center) within the USAID Project Dignity and Rights.
As migration processes in Central Asia have been mostly based on economic factors, starting from 2014 the region is experiencing the increase in return migration mostly caused by the economic downturn in Russian Federation and introduction of severe administrative sanctions against migrant-workers. The results of Phase I assessment have studied and identi ed key vulnerabilities of migrants, as well as challenges and opportunities faced by states in a result of return migration of their citizens. The report offered a set of recommendations for the national authorities and other stakeholders on addressing these vulnerabilities.
The Phase II report investigates further needs of vulnerable migrants, to assess their chances on successful reintegration upon return or in alternative destinations and considers the role of socio-economic vulnerabilities as possible grounds for the process of radicalization. It also analyzes the sociopolitical aspects of return migration, concentrating on the challenges faced by local authorities in integrating returnees.
This assessment was prepared by joint e orts of government authorities, experts and IOM missions in Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan).
I hope that this report will be found useful by all stakeholders directly involved into the process of working with migrants, such as NGOs and government agencies. It is intended to contribute into further development of legislative framework and interstate cooperation in the field of migration management.
