Regional workshop on facilitating rights-based return processes held in Budva

Hilfswerk International, in the period from 13 to 16 May 2025. in Budva, held a regional workshop for representatives of relevant institutions key to the issue of migration and human rights protection, with the participation of representatives of security agencies and services and civil society organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia who gathered with the aim of improving knowledge and skills related to the topic of improving regional cooperation in return operations and facilitating the rights-based return process.

On this occasion, the workshop entitled "Promoting regional cooperation on return operations, Facilitating rights-based return processes" aimed to improve the participants' understanding of European Union as well as international standards related to human rights in return operations, which enabled a constructive dialogue between representatives of the aforementioned security institutions, services and civil society organizations.

One of the crucial topics of the workshop related to the application of EU standards on human rights in return operations, in addition to prominent legal and operational frameworks, emphasized the importance and methods of application of the mentioned standards along with presentation of real cases and risk assessment, mapping models of institutional cooperation in the field of migration, asylum and return. Experienced EU trainers from this field provided the participants with detailed explanations of legal standards, procedural guarantees and best operational practices relevant to return operations, in connection with which the participants were also handed certificates of successful completion of the aforementioned session issued jointly by organizational bodies and trainers from the EU. Ultimately, the conducted workshop aims to contribute to the systemic integration of mechanisms for monitoring human rights into institutional return procedures throughout the region, which is guaranteed by the participation of regional actors and experts from the migration relevant field.

The workshop will result in improving participants' knowledge and their understanding of EU standards and procedures related to human rights; by strengthening procedures applicability in return operations through an insight into the best practices of EU member states and the Western Balkans, leaving an opportunity to adapt and integrate relevant practices into different national systems.

This workshop was organized as part of the project “Strengthening Migration Management, Asylum and Return Processes in the Western Balkans” financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior of Austria.

More about the project: https://hwi.ba/en/projects/refugees-migrants-displaced-persons/strengthening-migration-management-asylum-and-return-processes-in-the-western-balkans/22