Migrant Protection and Assistance

As a country of origin, transit and destination, Mozambique experiences continuous regular and irregular migration flows, with persons travelling from, across and to Mozambique for varied reasons such as work, education and family reunification. During transit and at destination, migrants, especially the most vulnerable, may be subject to violence, abuse, and exploitation, including trafficking in persons. IOM will support the Government of Mozambique, civil society and other partners to provide protection and assistance to migrants in need, including victims of trafficking, stranded migrants, unaccompanied and separated migrant children, migrants subject to violence, exploitation or abuse and others. In addition, IOM will provide direct assistance, including assisted voluntary return and reintegration to the most vulnerable migrants, bridging the gaps in service provision. As a pre-emptive measure, IOM will support local coordination mechanisms and the central Government to prevent trafficking in persons and raise awareness about the risks of irregular migration. IOM will particularly focus on mitigating the significant protection risks that children on the move, including unaccompanied and separated children, face in Mozambique.

Objective

Contribute to upholding the rights of migrants in accordance with international laws and standards.

Key Results

• The capacities of the Government of Mozambique and civil society to prevent and respond to trafficking in persons is increased.
• The child protection system for unaccompanied and separated migrant children in Mozambique is strengthened.
• Vulnerable migrants receive voluntary return and reintegration assistance.
• Mozambicans and migrants in Mozambique are aware of the risks of irregular migration and protection services available to them.
• The Government of Mozambique and its partners promote the adoption of alternatives to detention for irregular migrants.

Projects

Pilot Action on Voluntary Return and Sustainable, Community-Based Reintegration

Within the Pilot Action on Voluntary Return and Sustainable, Community-Based Reintegration, financed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, IOM is supporting the Government of Mozambique to contribute to the development of voluntary return and sustainable individual, collective and community-based reintegration approaches for Mozambican nationals who voluntarily return to Mozambique from South Africa. 

The Pilot Action has the following objectives:

• Enhance national structures and capacities to facilitate a dignified and sustainable return and reintegration process.  
• Support the national authorities in the country in the provision of dignified voluntary return assistance to stranded and vulnerable migrants. 
• Enhance the sustainability of returnees’ economic, social and psychosocial reintegration through tailored individual, collective and community-level assistance.

Addressing Irregular Migration Flows in Southern Africa, Phase VII (US Department of State)

This regional project supports the government to address mixed migration movements and implement the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA) Regional Action Plan in four critical areas:

• Facilitated regional dialogue through supporting the Government’s participation in MIDSA, the development and adoption of a national action plan on mixed migration and exchanges with key countries of destination and origin in SADC, among other through cross-border coordination meetings.
• Capacity-building through multi-sectoral cascade trainings based on the regional IOM-UNHCR Mixed Migration Curriculum aims at improving the response and protection mechanisms for vulnerable migrants in mixed movements.
• Assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) supports the return of vulnerable and stranded migrants unable to remain in the host country but facing barriers in returning home on their own. In many cases, AVRR provides a more humane and dignified solution to forced return. From 2014 to 2016, facilitated the return of 70 vulnerable migrants, many of whom were unaccompanied children.
• Unaccompanied minors (UAM) are at the centre of activities aimed at improving coordination mechanisms for their assistance and facilitating cross-border dialogue with countries of origin and destination.