Glossary
voluntary return

The assisted or independent return to the country of origin, transit or another country based on the voluntary decision of the returnee.

Decision-making process

A migrant’s return decision is often complex, influenced by a variety of considerations that sometimes overlap (Black et al., 2004). These may include improved political, economic, and/or social conditions in the country of origin and family and other private considerations (see more on how gender weighs in decision-making on return and reintegration). Some migrants return according to a plan, after having completed their education or work contract or having achieved a specific objective (such as saving enough money to buy a house back home). Difficulties in the host country may also lead to the decision to return, such as lack of economic opportunities, language difficulties, social isolation, discrimination, or unfamiliar cultural environments. Some people return in order to spend the last part of their life at home. Often, familial duties (care of sick or elderly relatives, protection of vulnerable family members) are among the reasons for returning.

A migrant’s decision to return does not necessarily imply that return is the migrant’s unambiguous wish. It is possible that other options are limited; for instance, a migrant might have no legal entitlement to remain on a State’s territory, or economic opportunities might be scarce.

It should be noted that there is no agreed definition of what constitutes the voluntary decision of a returnee. Some consider that return is voluntary only when migrants are still legally able to remain in their host countries. According to these actors, where a migrant under a legal obligation to leave the country chooses to return, such return should be described as “obliged”, “mandatory”, “compulsory” or “accepted return” (ECRE, 2018; Newland, 2018). Others, such as IOM, believe that voluntariness should be understood in a broader sense and that migrants can exercise their agency even in the absence of legal options to remain in the host countries, as long as other preconditions are met. These preconditions include, among other things:

  • An absence of physical or psychological pressure to return;
  • The availability of timely, unbiased and reliable information upon which migrants can make an informed decision;
  • Sufficient time to consider other available options and to prepare oneself for the return;
  • If receiving support to return, the possibility of withdrawing or reconsidering one’s consent if the proposed activities, circumstances, or available information change.

Although migrants faced with the prospect of return may have limited options that may not accord with the full wishes of the individual, migrants still have decisions to make about the return and reintegration process. Assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) programmes can empower migrants, allowing them the agency to make informed decisions about their return and reintegration.

To Go Further
Assisted voluntary return and reintegration

Sometimes, migrants who are unable or unwilling to remain in the host country or country of transit and who decide to return to their country of origin lack the means to return without help. In an increasing number of settings, States offer administrative, logistical or financial support to assist in the voluntary return (IOM, 2018a).

For governments, assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) is a more humane and usually a cost-effective way to manage return, compared to more restrictive measures such as detention or deportation (Black, Collyer and Somerville, 2011).

Migrants in an irregular situation are particularly vulnerable to discrimination, violence, exploitation and abuse and may be at heightened risk of being targeted by crime organizations involved in human trafficking and migrant smuggling. For these reasons, assisted voluntary return might be a solution during a situation of distress for them.

Beneficiaries of AVRR programmes can include migrants in both regular and irregular situations, including migrant workers (at the end of their contract), stranded migrants, asylum seekers, persons with refugee status or enjoying temporary protected status, visa overstayers, migrants in vulnerable situations, and others.

Assisted voluntary return and reintegration: Stakeholders

Many different stakeholders can be involved in AVRR activities to ensure migrants make free and informed decisions, travel back in safety and dignity, and are better prepared for return, thereby enhancing prospects for sustainable reintegration. Stakeholders can include:

  • Government officials and authorities in host, transit and origin countries, including:
    • Immigration and asylum authorities;
    • Social welfare authorities;
    • Child protection authorities;
    • Police;
    • Embassies and consular representations.
  • International organizations such as IOM, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
  • National or subnational non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including:
    • Diaspora associations;
    • Migrant support service providers.
  • Protection specialists and service providers, including:
    • Support providers for persons (not only migrants) vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse;
    • Shelters.
  • Health-care providers.
  • Receiving communities.

Close collaboration and partnerships between stakeholders help to ensure that migrants are provided with accurate information in a reliable, coherent and transparent manner, and are supported according to their needs. If required, migrants should be referred to the appropriate entities for assistance and support.

Good Practice
Coordination for the protection of vulnerable migrants 

Through establishing a National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the Government of Zambia ensures the provision of protection assistance to vulnerable migrants such as refugees, asylum seekers, victims of trafficking, unaccompanied and separated children, stranded migrants and stateless migrants. Because the NRM considers both the national legal framework and international best practices, it is in line with international obligations and tailored to the national context. It provides a clear and practical framework covering different stages of assistance (for example, the initial interview, status determination, referral for service provision and assistance (including addressing immediate, medium-term and long-term needs), integration, return and reintegration). It indicates relevant services to consider as well as service providers for each stage, thereby promoting coordination among actors.

Source

IOM, 2010.

Assisted voluntary return and reintegration: Support schemes

Support schemes provided under AVRR vary by programme and by the available resources, among other factors. They usually include providing information, assisting with pre-departure and with travel, and often extend to assisting with post-arrival reintegration.

Image / Video
Figure 1. Support schemes for Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR)
Source

IOM, 2018b.

To Go Further
Assisted voluntary return and reintegration: Decision-making process

Supporting migrants to make informed decisions about their return and reintegration when they are unable or unwilling to remain in their host countries enables them to return and reintegrate in a safe and dignified way.

Policy Approaches
Migrants’ choices in assisted voluntary return and reintegration programmes
  • Inform migrants of the return modalities available to them in a language and format that is accessible and understood by them. Ensure information provided is timely, unbiased and reliable.
  • Provide migrants sufficient time to consider other options, including to return voluntarily by their own means.
  • Seek consensus regarding the return modality without engaging in any type of physical or psychological coercion, intimidation or manipulation. Ensure responsible officials are trained and required to do so.
  • Provide migrants with the possibility of withdrawing or reconsidering their consent if the proposed activities, circumstances, or available information change.
  • In situations where migrants may not be capable of making an informed decision, ensure qualified professionals make an assessment to determine the extent to which a person is capable of taking such a free and informed decision, and, should the person lack such capacity, to identify who could legally take the decision on their behalf.
Source

IOM, 2021b (principle 4).

Key messages
  • Migrants decide to return for a variety of reasons. Return decisions are often complex and influenced by diverse considerations, including about conditions in the host or transit country and the country of origin as well as personal ones.
  • Voluntariness can be assumed, with the existence of four conditions: an absence of physical or psychological pressure to return; the availability of timely, unbiased and reliable information upon which migrants can make an informed decision; sufficient time to  consider other available options and to prepare oneself for the return; and, if receiving support to return, the possibility of withdrawing or reconsidering one’s consent if the proposed activities, circumstances, or available information change.
  • Assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) can serve different groups of migrants. It provides support schemes, ranging from outreach and information as well as counselling to the concrete organization and support of the return travel and post-arrival reintegration.
  • AVRR is most effective when based on the following guiding principles: rights-based approaches through active protection and upholding of migrant rights; inclusion and diversity; gender-responsive, child-and vulnerability-sensitive perspectives; do no harm; migrant agency; accountability; confidentiality; safe environments for return; sustainability of reintegration; whole-of-government approach and government ownership; partnership and cooperation.
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