The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations (UN) Migration Agency organised a three-day workshop on Migrants Rights and Sensitization on 27-29 November 2019 at Morena Hotel in  the Capital City of Dodoma.

The workshop has been facilitated by IOM together with UNHCR, University of Dar Es Salaam and the National Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Dignity Kwanza with the financial support of the United Kingdom (UK) Government through the Department for International Development (DFID).

It brought together 20 mid-level managers from different governmental institutions, such as Refugee Service Department (RSD), Immigration Service Department (ISD), Police Department, Prison Department, Social Welfare from Mainland and Zanzibar, Anti-Trafficking Secretariat (ATS) and the National Identification Authority (NIDA).

The workshop aimed at improving national agencies’ understanding and cooperation on addressing mixed migration issues and assisting vulnerable migrants, including asylum seekers.  A specific focus of the workshop is to enhance, participants knowledge of international migration law and its relationship to national laws relevant to migration. Discussions included mechanisms to support vulnerable groups in compliance with the United Republic of Tanzania’s legal framework and broader international law, this includes knowledge of protection principles and alternatives to detention. 

On behalf of IOM Chief of Mission of Tanzania, the Project Manager, Mr. Matteo RONGIONE, welcomed the participants to the workshop. He briefed them on the project objectives which aims at enhancing the United Republic of Tanzania’s migration management capacities on irregular migration by promoting humane and orderly migration through status determination processes of irregular migrants. Lastly, he reiterated IOM’s commitment as the UN Migration Agency in supporting the Government of Tanzania on Migration Management issues and encouraged participants to use the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge on Migrants Rights and share their valuable experience.

On behalf of the Government, Ms. Numbilya A.P. Mpolo, Assistant Director of the Refugee Service Department thanked IOM for organizing such a workshop which covers many topics on migrants and refugees’ rights. She expressed her appreciation for the fact that different institutions from the Government could come together and could utilize this opportunity to share their experience and knowledge in such an important subject. She has also emphasized the importance to working together with IOM, UNHCR, Dignity Kwanza, and all other departments that participated in the workshop so that the project can achieve objectives.

The workshop is part of a multi-year UK Government funded project titled Migrant Registration Support for Tanzania which aims to provide both increase Government of Tanzania capacity to manage irregular migration, and provide long term solutions for  some of the irregular migrants who have been in Tanzania for many years.  

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Matteo RONGIONE- IOM Tanzania | Email: MRONGIONE@iom.int |Tel: +255 699 617 770 or Ms. Valda CHALI - IOM Tanzania |Email: vchali@iom.int  |Tel: +255 685 248 063