The terms are used in slightly different contexts and can refer to:
The voluntary return of asylum seekers who no longer want to wait for a decision on their asylum application or who have changed their mind about the application and rather want to go back to their country of origin.
Destitute migrants, such as homeless people, who cannot afford the journey back home. Some homelessness charities provide funding for these journeys.
The "voluntary" return of rejected asylum seekers or irregular migrants to their countries of origin. Leaving voluntarily in this context can be somewhat euphemistic, as the alternative is often immigration detention and eventual deportation.
The most preferred of the UNHCR's three durable solutions for refugees because it is what most refugees seek.[2] Once the reasons for being displaced or having fled have disappeared and it is safe again to live in this country refugees are free to go back to their country of origin. The so-called returnees are still people of concern to the UNHCR and are, as such, under their legal protection. The UNHCR is monitoring returnee operations and offers support to returnees even after they have arrived in their countries of origin.
Some voluntary return programmes offer assisted voluntary return (AVR) and some voluntary return is spontaneous and independent without assistance.
"The sending state, in collaboration with the receiving state, must make adequate arrangements for the safe return of refugees who request repatriation, while the country of origin must facilitate their resettlement and grant them the full rights and privileges of nationals of the country, and subject them to the same obligations."[3]
Controversies
The UNHCR and the hosting countries usually encourage the refugees to return voluntarily. The 1969 Refugee Convention expects states of origin to advertise repatriation, by using the news and media as well as Organisation of African Unity, in order to invite refugees back home. Equally the host countries are expected to spread such information and to ensure it is received.[3] However, the information that is spread about the improved and safer situation in the country of origin may be exaggerated, blurred or untrue and refugees may be encouraged to return home before the dangers and risks are fully removed.
As refugees are protected from deportation (or refoulement) by the 1951 Refugee Convention, some host countries may indirectly force them to leave by gradually decreasing refugees' living standards and living conditions or by spreading lies about them to make them feel less welcome. This is similar to self-deportation.
In some countries, the IOM's programmes of "voluntary assisted returns" have been criticized. The "voluntary" nature of these returns, put forward in the media coverage of IOM interventions is considered as questionable, for instance in Libya.[4] According to the UNHCR, for whom "voluntariness is more than an issue of principle", if people's rights "are not recognized, if they are subject to pressures and restrictions and confined to closed camps, they may choose to return, but this is not an act of free will".[5]
Some countries offer financial support to refugees and rejected asylum seekers in order to facilitate the process of starting a new life in their country of origin. This could be considered as residency buyouts.
Support offered
The UNHCR and the IOM offer assistance to refugees who want to return voluntarily and to other people in need of support for returning to their home countries. This includes administrative, logistical, financial and reintegration support. Many developed countries also provide assistance and voluntary return programmes independent from the IOM and the UNHCR. Support includes making travel arrangements and paying for the journey. Support may also include financial support so that returnees can make sustainable investments and can build their lives again. Connecting people with networks and groups in the country of origin so that they will get support from local organisations.[citation needed]
When one takes part in assisted voluntary return programs (AVR), the applicant is giving up their claim as a refugee or asylum-seeker. Many times this includes a five-year travel ban restricting the individual from returning to the host country,[6] similar to deportation. According to interviews with IOM workers and files on return migrants who took part in their program, it is not uncommon for return migrants to feel pressured into applying to AVR programs due to financial hardships, lack of employment, fear of deportation, etc.[7]
Government policies and incentives
Europe
Belgium – Return and Emigration of Asylum Seekers Ex Belgium programme: This program is open to asylum seekers and third-country nationals who want to return to their country of origin or to voluntarily emigrate to a third world country. As this program is voluntary, one can retract their application if ever they change their mind. Applicants are offered travel support, including counselling prior to departure, assistance during their flight and travel cost. Applicants are also offered some monetary compensation to get them to their home from the airport. Financial support is also offered to aid in the reintegration process, partially funded by the European Return Fund.[8]
Denmark – with a history of financially incentivising the voluntary return of immigrants,[9] Denmark raised the amount to 100,000 kroner per person (around €13,000 EUR or US$20,000[10]) in 2009.[11]Peter Skaarup, deputy leader of the Danish People's Party, explained the scheme was aimed at immigrants from outside the EU and non-Nordic nations, targeting "nationals from non-Western countries who are struggling to adapt to Danish society". The Danish government also allocated 20 million kroner for city councils, to "motivate foreigners to return home".[12]
France – from 2005 around 3,000 immigrant families were paid to voluntarily leave France. By 2007, under newly elected President Nicolas Sarkozy, the French government started an enhanced scheme offering €6,000 per immigrant family to return to their country of origin. Brice Hortefeux, Immigration Minister, stated that France "must increase this measure to help voluntary return".[13] In 2016, in response to the European migrant crisis, the government had rapidly risen the offer from €350 to €2,500 per individual.[14] In 2017, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb reconfirmed the commitment to raise the monetary offer for immigrants to leave France.[citation needed]
Germany – with 35,000 voluntary returns in 2015, Germany allocated an extra €150 million over three years for migrants willing to return to their homelands.[15] The policy saw an increase to 55,000 repatriations in the first year.[16] In February 2017, under the 'Starthilfe Plus' scheme, immigrants were offered up to €1,000 each, or €3,000 to families, to leave the country and withdraw applications for asylum or residency.[17] As of October 2017, 8,639 immigrants had returned home via the government program.[18][19] In December 2017, under the slogan "Your country. Your future. Now!",[20] the German government began offering grants for new kitchens and bathrooms, as well as one year's worth of paid rent, in the country of origin of an immigrant choosing to return home.[21]
Ireland – in 2009, the Republic of Ireland government began offering repatriations grants to immigrants from nations outside the European Union to return home. The move was motivated by the Irish economic recession, with the EU-funded project attempting to "persuade foreign workers and asylum seekers to return to their country of origin".[22]
Italy – in 2013, the Italian government offered African migrants, mainly from Ghana, Libya and Togo, up to €500 to leave the country and travel onwards to Germany, France or northern European nations. Detlef Scheele, Hamburgs social affairs minister, dealing with multiple arrivals from Italy, declared that the immigrants had "no legal right to stay" and would return to Italy or back to their home countries.[23][24]
Norway – in 2016 the Norwegian government offered the first 500 asylum seekers to take a 10,000 kroner "bonus" to leave the country voluntarily, in addition to the 20,000 kroner already offered per person.[25]Sylvi Listhaug, Integration Minister of Norway, claimed the move might "entice" immigrants to "voluntarily travel back by giving them a bit more money on their way out".[26]
Spain – in 2008, struggling from recession and with unemployment towards 30%, the Spanish government proposed a 'Voluntary Return Plan'. Mainly targeting immigrants from South America, the Spanish labour ministry identified around 100,000 individuals from 19 countries which would be eligible for the scheme.[27] In 2011, Anna Terrón, Secretary of State for Immigration, claimed the scheme "helps everyone if those who want to return to their country of origin are able to."[28]
Sweden – in August 2007, the Swedish government began offering asylum seekers who were rejected permanent residency the equivalent of £3,500 per immigrant for a voluntary return to their country of origin.[29][30] This resulted in a record 4,542 immigrants taking part in the scheme, and returning home in the first 8 months of 2016.[31]
Switzerland – the Swiss government, following in the footsteps of Denmark, began a policy of confiscating any property of illegal immigrants with a value over 1,000 Swiss francs. However, the 2016 policy included an incentive for migrants to return to their country of origin, with the SEM stating that "if someone leaves voluntarily within seven months this person can get the money back and take it with them."[32][33]
United Kingdom – in 2006, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants were offered up to £3,000 per individual to leave the country. Job training, education as well as travel costs were included in the scheme, with an expected uptake of 3,000 people, costing the British taxpayer an estimated £6.2 million.[34] By 2010, the annual cost had risen to £16 million, with Immigration Minister Damian Green announcing a reduction from the 5-year delay on re-entry applications, to further incentivise quick voluntary repatriations.[citation needed]
Assisted Voluntary Return for Families and Children: This program is open to non-European people with children and lone migrant children. They are given a cash grant of £500 to relocate and £2,000 to reintegrate to their communities per person.[35] One can apply to this scheme before their asylum claim has been rejected.[6]
Assisted Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants: This program provides help to illegal immigrants and immigrants who have overstayed to return to their country of origin. They are not offered monetary assistance.[35]
Facilitated Returns Scheme: This aids foreign national prisoners, once they have completed their sentence they are given £500 cash and a reintegration package of £3,000. If they leave before the end of their sentence they can receive up to £2,000 more.[35]
Positive Futures Project: This project is offered to young unaccompanied adults. After applying to an assisted voluntary return program, they can receive training to develop skills and gain additional education to help them build a home and have a career in the country they are returning to.[36]
Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme: One can receive maximum £1,500 per person relocating to their home country. This program aids applicants with travel documents and booking flight.[35]
North America
Canada – the Canadian government opted to not renew their 'Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration' pilot program in early 2015, after an evaluation by the Canada Border Services Agency. The program sought to reduce the number of failed asylum appeals and incentivize voluntarily leaving the country, but did not achieve all its objectives.[37]
United States – in 2018, the American government announced the end of temporary protected status (TPS) for 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants. The decision, implemented by President Donald Trump, gave an 18-month period for immigrants to find a legal route to staying in the U.S. or to return to their country of origin. The termination of TPS comes into effect on September 9, 2019, granting immigrants a grace period for voluntarily repatriation, before facing deportation beyond that date.[38]
Rest of world
Israel – the Israeli government withhold 20 percent of asylum seekers' wages, in an attempt to encourage individuals to leave the country, where they will have access to the funds upon return to their homeland. The scheme was launched from May 2016, and currently applies to asylum seekers from Sudan and Eritrea.[39]
Japan – after the 2008 recession, Japan initiated a policy of paying unemployed workers to leave the country, mainly targeting the Latin American Dekasegi population for voluntary return.[40] The incentivised scheme offered $3,000 (USD), plus $2,000 per dependent, and came with additional clauses that children of the returnee (second-generation immigrants) would not be able to later emigrate to Japan regardless of circumstance.[1]
UNHCR refugee return statistics
Voluntary return movements of refugees between 2014 and 1998[41]
End-year
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
Returned refugees
1,016,400
767,500
2,426,000
1,434,400
733,700
603,800
197,700
525,900
126,800
Voluntary return movements of refugees by country between 2014 and 2010
^ abEncinas, Monica (May 2016). "Assisted Voluntary Return: implications for women and children". Forced Migration Review. 1: 84–86.
^Leekes, Arjen (November 2017). "What drives 'soft deportation'? Understanding the rise in Assisted Voluntary Return among rejected asylum seekers in the Netherlands". Population Space and Place. 23.
^Lietaert, Ine (December 2017). "From Social Instrument to Migration Management Tool: Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes - The Case of Belgium". Social Policy and Administration. 51 (7): 961–980. doi:10.1111/spol.12185.
Kabupaten TrenggalekKabupatenTranskripsi bahasa daerah • Hanacarakaꦠꦽꦔ꧀ꦒꦭꦺꦏ꧀ • Pegonترڠڬالَيك • Bentuk nonformal JawangGalekSearah jarum jam: Pantai Blado, Gua Kumbokarno, Pantai Prigi, dan lahan sawah berlatar belakang Gunung Wilis LambangEtimologi: Teranging galihGaplekJulukan: Penghasil GaplekMotto: Jwalita praja karana(Jawa) Cemerlang karena rakyatPetaKabupaten TrenggalekPetaTampilkan peta JawaKabupaten TrenggalekK…
Ben WhishawLahirBenjamin John Whishaw14 Oktober 1980 (umur 43)Clifton, Bedfordshire, EnglandAlmamaterRoyal Academy of Dramatic ArtPekerjaanAktorTahun aktif1999–sekarangPasanganMark Bradshaw (2012–sekarang) Benjamin John Ben Whishaw (lahir 14 Oktober 1980) adalah pemeran berkebangsaan Inggris. Namanya mulai dikenal secara luas sebagai pemeran panggung ketika memainkan naskah Hamlet. Dia juga bermain di serial drama televisi Nathan Barley, Criminal Justice, dan The Hour. Film yang pe…
Asam paya Eleiodoxa Asam paya TaksonomiDivisiTracheophytaSubdivisiSpermatophytesKladAngiospermaeKladmonocotsKladcommelinidsOrdoArecalesFamiliArecaceaeSubfamiliCalamoideaeTribusCalameaeSubtribusSalaccinaeGenusEleiodoxa Burret, 1942 lbs Eleiodoxa adalah genus tumbuhan berbunga monotipe dalam keluarga palem yang ditemukan di Asia Tenggara . Satu-satunya spesies, Eleiodoxa conferta, merupakan tumbuhan dioecious yang tinggal di rawa, biasa disebut dalam bahasa Melayu sebagai asam kelubi atau asam pay…
Questa voce sull'argomento strade d'Italia è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Strada statale 72di San MarinoDenominazioni precedentiStrada nazionale 45[1]; Strada nazionale 35[2]; Strada nazionale 61[3] LocalizzazioneStato Italia Regioni Emilia-Romagna DatiClassificazioneStrada statale InizioRimini FineConfine di Stato presso Cerasolo Lunghezza10,654[4] km Provvedimento di istituzioneLegge 17 maggio 1…
1972 filmCrime BossDirected byAlberto De MartinoScreenplay by Lucio Manlio Battistrada Alberto De Martino[1] Story by Lucio Manlio Battisrada Luigi Mordini[1] Produced byGino Mordini[1]Starring Antonio Sabàto Telly Savalas Paola Tedesco CinematographyAristide Massaccesi[1]Edited byOtello Colangeli[1]Music byFrancesco De Masi[1]ProductioncompanyClaudia Cinematografica[1]Distributed byP.A.C.Release date 8 August 1972 (1972-08-…
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Spanish. (September 2015) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Spanish article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikip…
This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Toruń Voivodeship – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Torun Voivodeship Toruń Voivodeship (Polish: województwo toruńskie) was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in the y…
Keluarga Sosrodjojo adalah pendiri pabrik minuman Teh Botol Sosro dan pemilik Rekso Group yang menaungi PT Sinar Sosro, PT Rekso Nasional Food (pemilik utama franchise restoran McDonald's), perusahaan perkebunan teh PT Gunung Slamat, dan lain sebagainya.[1] Sosrodjojo adalah generasi pertama keluarga Sosrodjojo yang memiliki empat orang putra, yakni Soetjipto Sosrodjojo (meninggal pada 10 Maret 2010),[2] Soegiharto Sosrodjojo, Surjanto Sosrodjojo, dan Soemarsono Sosrodjojo (alm).…
Jarosław Dąbrowski Jarosław Żądło-Dąbrowski (pengucapan bahasa Polandia: [jaˈrɔswav ˈʐɔndwɔ dɔmˈbrɔfskʲi]; 13 November 1836 – 23 Mei 1871), juga dikenal sebagai Jaroslav Dombrowski, merupakan seorang bangsawan Polandia[1] dan perwira militer Angkatan Darat Kekaisaran Rusia, aktivis kemerdekaan sayap kiri dan republikanisme radikal[2] Polandia, dan komandan jenderal militer Komune Paris di hari-hari terakhirnya. Dia adalah peserta dalam Pemberontakan Januar…
Piero Guido Alpa Piero Guido Alpa (Ovada, 26 novembre 1947) è un giurista e avvocato italiano. Indice 1 Biografia 2 Carriera 3 Onorificenze 4 Principali pubblicazioni 4.1 Monografie 4.2 Curatele italiane 4.3 Pubblicazioni in lingua straniera 5 Note 6 Bibliografia 7 Voci correlate 8 Altri progetti 9 Collegamenti esterni Biografia Dopo il diploma al Liceo Andrea Doria di Genova, conseguito a pieni voti nel 1966, si è laureato con lode in giurisprudenza nel 1970 presso l'Università di Genova. Su…
2013 Japanese filmHello, My Dolly GirlfriendPosterDirected byTakashi IshiiProduced byTakashi AchiwaUjikatsu OmoriStarringTasuku EmotoKokone SasakiNaoto TakenakaRumi KazamaRina SakuragiYuki MamiyaDistributed byKadokawa PicturesRelease date 15 June 2013 (2013-06-15) Running time112 minutesCountryJapanLanguageJapanese Hello, My Dolly Girlfriend (フィギュアなあなた) is a 2013 Japanese erotic romance film directed by Takashi Ishii and starring Tasuku Emoto, Kokone Sasaki and N…
Period of the United Kingdom being a member state of the European Union Part of a series of articles onUK membershipof the European Union(1973–2020) Accession Treaty of Accession 1972 1972 EC Act 1973 enlargement of the EC 1975 referendum Referendum Act (results) Treaty amendments Single European Act, 1986 (UK ratification) Maastricht Treaty, 1992 (UK ratification) Treaty of Amsterdam, 1997 (UK ratification) Treaty of Nice, 2001 (UK ratification) Treaty of Lisbon, 2007 (UK ratification) Relate…
American geophysicist (1924–2020) Frank PressPress in 195319th President of the National Academy of SciencesIn office1981–1993Preceded byPhilip HandlerSucceeded byBruce Alberts2nd Director of the Office of Science and Technology PolicyIn officeJanuary 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981PresidentJimmy CarterPreceded byGuyford SteverSucceeded byBenjamin Huberman (Acting) Personal detailsBorn(1924-12-04)December 4, 1924New York City, U.S.DiedJanuary 29, 2020(2020-01-29) (aged 95)Chapel …
Former association football club in Chester, England This article is about the original club from Chester that existed until 2010. For the re-formed club, see Chester F.C. Football clubChester CityFull nameChester City Football ClubNickname(s)The SealsThe BluesFounded1885; 139 years ago (1885) (as Chester F.C.)Dissolved10 March 2010GroundDeva Stadium, Chester, EnglandCapacity6,500 (5,500 seated) Home colours Away colours Chester City Football Club was an association football te…
Norwegian painter (1851–1935) Digging for Worms (1884) Wilhelm Otto Peters (17 August 1851 – 18 November 1935) was a Norwegian painter who participated in the Modern Breakthrough in Nordic painting. He associated closely with the Skagen Painters in the early 1880s and was one of the first to paint the fishermen in Brøndums store. Early life Born in Oslo, Peters studied drawing from 1867 to 1870 under David Arnesen and J.F. Eckersberg. Working as an illustrator, he came to the attention …
Publishing company IDG redirects here. For other uses, see IDG (disambiguation). International Data GroupFounded1964; 60 years ago (1964)FoundersPatrick Joseph McGovernHeadquartersNeedham, Massachusetts, United StatesArea servedWorldwideOwnerBlackstone Inc.Websiteidginc.com International Data Group (IDG, Inc.)[1] is a market intelligence and demand generation company[2] focused on the technology industry. IDG, Inc.'s mission is centered around supporting th…
JarositJarosit dari Distrik Arabia, County Pershing, NevadaUmumKategoriMineral sulfatRumus(unit berulang)KFe3+3(OH)6(SO4)2Klasifikasi Strunz07.BC.10Klasifikasi Dana30.2.5.1Sistem kristalTrigonalGrup ruangTrigonal 3 2/m heksagonal skalenohedralSel unita = 7.304 Å, c = 17.268 Å; Z=3IdentifikasiMassa molekul500.8 gWarnaKuning sawo atau coklat gelapPerawakanKristal biasanya pseudokubik atau tabularBelahanBeda di {0001}FrakturTidak rata hingga konkoidalSifat dalamRapuhKekerasan dalam skala Mohs2.5 …
Obsolete form of removable media 1970s vintage 200 megabyte disk pack manufactured by Dysan, with the cover removed Disk packs and disk cartridges were early forms of removable media for computer data storage, introduced in the 1960s. Computer memory and Computer data storage types General Memory cell Memory coherence Cache coherence Memory hierarchy Memory access pattern Memory map Secondary storage MOS memory floating-gate Continuous availability Areal density (computer storage) Block (data st…