Building the Capacity of the Department of Immigration to Uphold the Basic Human Rights of Irregular Migrants

The overall objective of this project is to support the efforts of the Government of Zambia to strengthen its capacity to manage irregular migration movements and ensure that irregular migrants with specific protection needs are treated in a manner consistent with international migration law standards and with a rights-based approach.

The project will train border and prison officials to implement standards for assessing, referral and protection of irregular migrants as well as human rights and international migration law principles. The aim of these trainings is to ensure that first line officials have both skills and knowledge to better assist irregular migrants and know how to respond in accordance with international best practices and national laws and, provide access to protection for victims of trafficking and vulnerable stranded migrants, amongst others in need of protection. Furthermore, the project will develop Standard Operating Procedures for assessments and referral and upgrade the Department of Immigration Headquarters’ database to include provisions of the 2010 Immigration Act, and for case tracking of irregular migrants.