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Primary GCM Objectives

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GCM Guiding Principles*

*All practices are to uphold the ten guiding principles of the GCM. This practice particularly exemplifies these listed principles.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Dates

2022 - 2024

Geographic scope

Summary

With the overall objective of strengthening institutional capacities and operational mechanisms to fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Côte d’Ivoire, this Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs-funded project provides direct assistance to Victims of Trafficking (VoT) and smuggled migrants identified in Côte d’Ivoire. More specifically, it provides migrants who are victims of trafficking, abuse and exploitation with access to voluntary return and reintegration assistance in their countries of origin. The specific practice is intended for foreign victims identified in Côte d'Ivoire, who receive holistic and multidimensional assistance, particularly prior to their return. Before being able to return to their country of origin, VoTs spend several weeks in transit centers due to the long pre-departure administrative procedures (coordination with consulates for travel documents, medical examinations, fit-to-travel, etc.). The lengthy wait time is often a source of stress and distress for VoTs, who have often experienced traumatic experiences as a result of their migration journey and the exploitation suffered.

Therefore, in order to promote their well-being, mental health and strengthen their resilience, skills training and psychological follow-up are offered to VoTs hosted in partner centers, through the use of art therapy, resilience coaching, motor and sensory activities, emotional awareness and stress management activities, role playing games, breathing and medication exercises, etc. In addition, skills trainings such as hairdressing, sewing, pastry, agriculture, etc. are also provided to VoTs in order to gain new skills and contribute to their personal development prior to their return and the implementation of their reintegration project in their country of origin. Finally, recreational trips outside of the centers are also organized to contribute to their mental well-being.

Following some of the challenges faced, an agreement with the National Mental Health Plan is underway in order for social workers and specialized personnel to provide adequate services within centers on a continuous basis as well as reinforce the skills of existing center personnel to ensure sustainability of the initiative. In addition, the National Committee for the Fight Against Trafficking (CNLTP), which regularly refers VoTs to IOM for assistance, have started to conduct joint monitoring visits with IOM to the various centers to follow-up on the different assisted cases.

Organizations

Main Implementing Organization(s)

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Benefit and Impact

The beneficiaries of this practice gain strengthened resilience, new skills, mental and psychosocial well-being. These impacts are measured through satisfaction and evaluation questionnaires prior to their departure. The impacts of the practice can be observed one or two months after the arrival of VoTs in the centers. Center staff members are provided with mental health and psychosocial support training to continue providing some of these activities beyond the initial end date. Some centers are also rehabilitated in order to ensure the required infrastructure to continue providing adequate assistance.

Based on questionnaires administered after beneficiaries' stays in various transit centers, and quotes from VoTs during MHPSS sessions, including focus group discussions, the majority reported feeling "ready to return home" and stated that the MHPSS sessions "increased their courage." Some mentioned that their "migration journey was destructive on all levels, but the MHPSS sessions made them more resilient." One beneficiary noted that their "migration experience became constructive once the exploitation ended, thanks to the supportive environment at the transit center, creative workshops, personal development activities, and listening sessions." Regarding the new skills acquired at the transit centers, VoTs often apply them upon returning to their country of origin to establish income-generating activities. Alternatively, they may use the reintegration assistance to pursue professional training, further refining the skills they previously gained in Côte d’Ivoire.

Key Lessons

The main challenges are the lack of specialized staff within centers to continuously implement this practice as well as the lack of material and infrastructure for centers to be able to ensure implementation of the practice. To face these challenges, some centers were rehabilitated, and equipment was provided to be able to continue implementing the practice. In addition, center staff were also trained in order to acquire the necessary skills to implement the practice and some of its related activities.

Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)

To implement this practice, it is important to consider training relevant staff or hiring specialized staff to implement the specific activities, to ensure activities are tailored to the specific needs, vulnerabilities and preferences of the beneficiaries.

Innovation

This practice can be considered innovative as it promotes the well-being of VoTs and the provision of mental health and psychosocial assistance through recreational and creative activities/workshops. This practice catalyzed other related initiatives as it was replicated in all of IOM Côte d’Ivoire’s partner-centers in Abidjan. The practice has long term benefits on the VoTs as it allows them to increase their resilience and gain new skills that they will be able to reuse once they return to their country of origin. The practice is scalable and adjustable based on the specific needs of the beneficiaries.

The human rights approach in providing MHPSS and art therapy to victims of trafficking is centered around several core principles, including non-discrimination, guaranteeing that all victims, regardless of their gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, or any other status, have equal access to MHPSS and art therapy services; dignity and respect, ensuring that all interventions are carried out in the respect of victims, treating them with compassion, empathy, and understanding, acknowledging their past trauma, and supporting their journey towards healing. Victims are also encouraged to actively participle in their own recovery process. This includes involving them in the decision-making about the types of activities they want to be part of, the experiences they wish to share and the suggestions they share about future activities to be implemented in the centers. Finally, the practice ensures the confidentiality and safety principle, protecting the privacy of victims and providing them with a safe environment to express themselves freely.

All of the services provided to VoTs by IOM are gender-focused and based on the specific needs of each of the beneficiaries. Gender is considered during the interview of the beneficiaries by favoring women for interviews of women and girls or choosing female gynecologists for women to respond to the international principles of assistance to VoTs. Moreover, in the elaboration of the material kits, IOM made sure to provide kits that corresponded to the needs of men and women, and girls and boys. Gender is also considered during the assisted voluntary return process that VoTs also benefit from, and in this regard female operational escorts assist girls with voluntary return.

Additional Resources

Instagram post by IOM Côte d’Ivoire

Facebook post by IOM Côte d’Ivoire

Additional Images

Date submitted:

24 June 2024

Disclaimer: The content of this practice reflects the views of the implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, the United Nations Network on Migration, and its members.