Repository of Practices
Primary GCM Objectives
GCM Guiding Principles*
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Dates
2020
Type of practice
Project/Programme
Summary
In Turkey, voluntary return programs are carried out in partnership with international organizations and with the support of IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance)-embassies. As a result of a need to ensure sustainability, a national mechanism was established by signing the "Common Intent Statement on the National Supported Voluntary Return Mechanism" on 18 June 2019, under the leadership of Presidency of Migration Management, with the partnership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Red Crescent General Directorate and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency. On September 2, 2020, the “Cooperation Protocol for the Development and Operation of the Nationally Supported Voluntary Return Mechanism” was signed, and the mechanism became operational. Within the scope of the mechanism, 44 foreign nationals from Afghanistan were allowed to leave their countries within the scope of the pilot application on January 5, 2021.
Organizations
Main Implementing Organization(s)
Government of Türkiye
Detailed Information
Turkish MFA
Benefit and Impact
- Benefits achieved: The National Supported Voluntary Return Mechanism is a system established to ensure the return of foreigners to their countries in a dignified manner and to improve cooperation with the country of origin, taking into account human rights standards. Voluntary returns within the framework of the mechanism may be possible for foreigners who are in the status of irregular immigrants and want to return to their country, as well as for foreigners who want to terminate their international protection status or application. Although forced returns are always an instrument used especially in the fight against irregular migration, it is considered that the development and dissemination of voluntary return programs is important for Turkey's migration management.
- Beneficiaries: The National Mechanism was established with the partnership of Presidency of Migration Management, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Red Crescent, and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency. The system benefits both the foreigners who want to return to Turkey voluntarily in terms of migration management, and the countries of these foreigners, considering the reintegration support.
- Measuring the effects: It is considered that the most important criteria in measuring the effects of the system are the number of foreigners who want to benefit from the voluntary return program and the success of adapting to life in their own country with the contribution of the reintegration support of the foreigners who return. In this way, it is considered that it is important that foreigners benefiting from the program tend to regular migration opportunities instead of resorting to irregular migration routes, and that this effect can be felt for the citizens of the source country.
- The duration of the procedures: Although it may vary according to the case, the procedures of a foreigner who wants to return to his country within the scope of voluntary repatriation can be completed in an average of 1 week in order to make the necessary evaluations, to provide travel documents and travel planning if necessary.
- Beneficiaries: The National Mechanism was established with the partnership of Presidency of Migration Management, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Red Crescent, and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency. The system benefits both the foreigners who want to return to Turkey voluntarily in terms of migration management, and the countries of these foreigners, considering the reintegration support.
- Measuring the effects: It is considered that the most important criteria in measuring the effects of the system are the number of foreigners who want to benefit from the voluntary return program and the success of adapting to life in their own country with the contribution of the reintegration support of the foreigners who return. In this way, it is considered that it is important that foreigners benefiting from the program tend to regular migration opportunities instead of resorting to irregular migration routes, and that this effect can be felt for the citizens of the source country.
- The duration of the procedures: Although it may vary according to the case, the procedures of a foreigner who wants to return to his country within the scope of voluntary repatriation can be completed in an average of 1 week in order to make the necessary evaluations, to provide travel documents and travel planning if necessary.
Key Lessons
Lessons learned: It is considered that the division of labor among the stakeholders and the funding of the mechanism/use of funds should be determined in detail during the establishment phase of the program.
Difficulties Encountered: Secondary legislation can take time, the benefits of implementing the mechanism with more than one stakeholder, as well as the difficulties encountered in some cases, and the time consuming necessary arrangements in the use of funds can be listed among the difficulties encountered. In order to overcome these difficulties, it is seen as an important instrument to increase communication and coordination with stakeholders to higher levels.
Difficulties Encountered: Secondary legislation can take time, the benefits of implementing the mechanism with more than one stakeholder, as well as the difficulties encountered in some cases, and the time consuming necessary arrangements in the use of funds can be listed among the difficulties encountered. In order to overcome these difficulties, it is seen as an important instrument to increase communication and coordination with stakeholders to higher levels.
Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)
Although the existence of programs carried out with international organizations is also important, it is considered important for countries to establish their own national mechanisms in the field of voluntary return. In this direction, studies are carried out in order to analyze the migration motivations in the source countries, to determine the voluntary return support programs customized for the country, region and foreigners, to carry out studies to increase the awareness and visibility of the program, to measure the efficiency of the voluntary return programs and reintegration supports. The effective conduct of the evaluation can be listed as recommendations for other countries.
Innovation
- Sustainability: Considering the desire to increase the rate of supported voluntary returns among the returns and the serious developments in this field over the years, it is evaluated that the program will not face a problem in terms of sustainability, but on the contrary, it will turn into a much more advanced mechanism.
- Is it scalable: It is evaluated that this will be possible with the development of the capacity of the stakeholders, the continuity of the funds to be provided, and the development and diversification of the supports to be provided in the source countries.
- Covid-19 effect: It is possible to talk about the direct or indirect effects of the Covid-19 global epidemic in this field, as in all other fields.
- Is it scalable: It is evaluated that this will be possible with the development of the capacity of the stakeholders, the continuity of the funds to be provided, and the development and diversification of the supports to be provided in the source countries.
- Covid-19 effect: It is possible to talk about the direct or indirect effects of the Covid-19 global epidemic in this field, as in all other fields.
Date submitted:
31 January 2022
*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).