During 21-23 September, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) delivered a Train of Trainers (ToT) on forced return monitoring for a number of interested professionals selected from among relevant Moldovan stakeholders. As part of the same FReMM project, on 24 September ICMPD held a workshop for developing the Guidelines for forced return monitoring, based on the best European practices. Both events gathered a mixed audience from the Moldovan Bureau for Migration and Asylum, the People's Advocates Office of Moldova, and the NGO Law Centre of Advocates. In light of on-going pandemic situation and given the highly interactive nature of the events, on-the spot rapid antigen testing has been arranged for all participants as additional safety measure.
The comprehensive three-day training aimed to equip participants with the skills and competencies to deliver training on forced return monitoring. It consisted of theoretical and practical sessions on relevant topics such as principles of adult learning and group teaching, key methods and tools including visualization, the role of style including body language, curricula structure, dealing with disruptive behaviour, delivering the feedback, learning, and evaluation, etc. The methodology applied included interactive lectures, group discussions, numerous practical exercises, and simulations. The ToT was fully customised to the specific training needs on forced return monitoring, and is among activities most aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the project efforts.
The training targeted forced-return monitors from the Moldovan Ombudsman Office and its partner NGO Law Centre for Advocates. Candidates from the Moldovan Bureau for Migration and Asylum – the return enforcing authority – have also been invited to express interest. In selecting participants, consideration was paid to their background, experience, and motivation, as well as gender and inter-institutional balance, among others. A total of eight trainees have ultimately been selected, all of whom also benefitted from the earlier Training for forced return monitors, delivered in Vienna, during 22-25 June 2021, to a wider community of Moldovan practitioners.
The ToT was followed next day on 24 September by a Workshop on forced return monitoring guidelines. The objective was to discuss and agree on a set of points that should guide the work of the monitors, such as monitor's ethics, general and specific monitoring standards for various types and phases of a return operation, monitoring tools and techniques, reporting and follow-up, etc. The outcome of the workshop is a written Guideline to be drafted based on the discussions and to be presented to the stakeholders shortly.
Moldova has only recently embarked on building a national forced-return monitoring system. FReMM (Development of a Forced-Return Monitoring System in the Republic of Moldova) project is supporting the relevant stakeholders to (1) strengthen the legal/institutional framework relevant to forced-return monitoring, (2) increase the capacities of the relevant institutions to monitor forced-return operations, and (3) contributing to the effective communication and cooperation between the return enforcing institutions and the monitoring bodies. The project is implemented by ICMPD, and is funded by the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration.