Migration and Human Rights at International Borders
Strengthening migration management and How do we work? integration across the OSCE region to protect ODIHR is uniquely placed to support national, regional migrant rights and promote social cohesion and local authorities on migration and refugee integration, Safeguarding the human rights of migrants and refugees drawing on its wide-ranging expertise, the trust and credibility is vital for the development of cohesive and stable it has built with both civil society and human rights defenders, democratic societies. ODIHR supports participating States its long-standing partnerships with other international (pSs) across the OSCE region both in protecting the organizations and established coordination with OSCE field human rights of migrants and refugees, and in working operations. towards their integration in host countries. By fostering ODIHR supports participating States in fulfilling the collaboration among governments, civil society and commitments they have made on migration and international organizations, ODIHR ensures that migration displacement and helps civil society become stronger and management and integration policies are effective and more effective by: human rights-compliant, and strengthen social cohesion. • Identifying good practices and gaps in migration and integration policies and practices; Why is it important? • Ensuring compliance with international human rights Migrant and refugee integration is, and will remain, both standards and OSCE commitments; a significant challenge and valuable opportunity for host • Providing training, tailored guidelines and countries. Respect for human rights at international borders recommendations; and is an essential part of upholding the rule of law. The drivers • Developing peer networks and fostering the exchange and dynamics of migration are evolving rapidly and require of experiences among civil society organizations and States to be adaptable. national institutions.
Key OSCE commitments • Vienna 1989: pSs reaffirm the right of individuals to • Ljubljana 2005: pSs commit to promote the freedom of movement within their own countries and the dignified treatment of all individuals wanting to cross right to leave and return to their country, while committing borders. to simplify visa and exit procedures. States also agree to • Hamburg 2016: States acknowledge the growing facilitate family reunification. challenges of large migration flows, reaffirm • Istanbul 1999: pSs pledge to respect the right to seek commitments to international protection standards asylum, ensure the international protection of refugees, and pledge to promote safe, orderly and responsible uphold human rights in migration settings, combat human migration through international cooperation. trafficking and support coordinated, inclusive strategies for • OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Berlin managing migration. Declaration (2018): calls for upholding the rights of • Maastricht 2003: links migration and mobility with human migrants and refugees, especially their freedom from security, emphasizing the need to address the root causes arbitrary detention. of migration, enhance integration policies and prevent trafficking and migrant smuggling through cooperation. Current areas of focus include:
• Helping civil society monitor and • Fostering policymaking that Key ODIHR resources advocate for the human rights of capitalizes on the contribution available in English and migrants and refugees at international of diasporas to post- Russian borders and domestically. ODIHR trains conflict reconstruction and human rights defenders to carry out development. high-quality, objective human rights Border monitoring and promotes a safe and • Raising awareness about the Border Management and Human Rights Management and human rights implications of Human Rights 36.83 o C 36.51 o C
enabling environment for human rights 36.22 o C a
defenders working on migration. new technologies used in border management. • Supporting national and local authorities Collection, processing and sharing of personal data and the use of new technologies in the counter-terrorism and freedom of movement context
with the design and implementation of sustainable integration policies that are human rights-compliant. Good Practices good practices in migrant integration: in Migrant trainee’s manual
Integration
COMPASS COMPASS has three pillars: In April 2025, ODIHR launched 1. Strengthening integration and COMPASS: Comprehensive social cohesion through training Assistance for Migration and guidance on how to enhance Policies in the OSCE Region. migrant and refugee integration, Shaping Balanced This almost four-year project counter xenophobia and foster Political Discourse aims to strengthen migration more resilient and cohesive and Constructive management and integration societies. Narratives on Migration frameworks across the OSCE 2. Promoting human rights- region, promoting social compliant border management cohesion, protecting migrant by training authorities and human rights and addressing emerging rights defenders. challenges in migration and border management. COMPASS 3. Addressing emerging migration Enhanced Understanding Enhanced challenges by equipping state on Freedom of Movement Understanding delivers context-specific solutions in all Phases of the
on Freedom of and fosters collaboration to officials and civil society with tools Movement in all promote sustainable and human and strategies to help them adapt Phases of the rights-compliant migration and to the changing dynamics of Conflict Cycle integration policies. migration, such as climate change and new technology.
Opening Doors for Children: Prevention of Childhood Statelessness - Good Practices in All ODIHR resources on migration are available at: the OSCE Area https://www.osce.org/odihr/migration
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
ul. Miodowa 10 00-251 Warsaw Poland Follow ODIHR Office: +48 22 520 06 00 office@odihr.pl