The IOM Migration Information center seeks to provide consultations and assist to returning Lithuanian migrants or those who are only considering a possibility to return back to Lithuania

It is quite complicated to make a decision to come back to one‘s home country after a long period of time spent living abroad. Plenty of administrative formalities have to be undertaken at the same time. Moreover, one has to get accustomed to a new political, institutional or emotional situation in the country.  A person had changed, so did Lithuania.  IOM believes that only when possessing adequate information people can make the best decisions. 

Starting the beginning of 2015, IOM MIC is providing consultations to all returning Lithuanian migrants or those who are for now are only thinking of coming back. In a one-stop shop institution returning migrants can receive information on the following topics: 

Migration information center will assist you by: 

Assisted Voluntary Return Programme  

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme is a help for the migrants who decided to return home voluntarily, but do not have the (financial) means or need special assistance. Since 1979 International Organization for Migration has helped to return home safely for more than 1.2 million migrants from all over the world. 

During the 15 years of its activity IOM Vilnius office has provided the assistance for more than 2000 foreigners from Asian, African and European countries. 

IOM Vilnius provides the following assistances: 

E-mail: avr@iom.lt
free telephone line: 8 800 12342
in person: at IOM Vilnius Office, Jaksto str. 12, 4th floor, LT-01105 Vilnius, Lithuania 

For more information visit the project website: www.returnhome.lt

While numbers of estimated victims of trafficking worldwide vary, it is estimated that over 800.000 persons become victims of trafficking yearly and most importantly, they are constantly on the rise. Moreover, estimates often do not include individuals who are victims within the borders of their own countries. IOM is working to prevent this crime. During the last 25 years IOM assisted over 65.000 victims of trafficking in human beings. 

Trafficking of persons shall mean: 

IOM Vilnius office is closely involved into counter-trafficking activities in Lithuania since 2001. Until now the office provided assistance to more than 200 victims of human trafficking, implemented research and public awareness raising campaigns on the risks of trafficking, provided various training to main stakeholders (social workers, police, prosecutors, teachers) on how to preempt and prevent this crime. The public campaign “You can be sold as a doll” received national wide recognition. IOM Vilnius actively contributed to prevention of trafficking not only in the Baltic region but also in the Kaliningrad region (Russian Federation). 

Trafficking in human beings is a constantly evolving crime. Currently new forms of trafficking are proliferating, including exploitation for labour purposes, trafficking of children for thievery aborad, etc.). Therefore IOM Vilnius started the new project “Fighting of trafficking crime by increasing social responsibility” to address these new challenges. The project aims to increase social responsibility of communities and to train social workers working with families at risks in remote regions to early recognize possible victims of trafficking. 

For more information: http://prekybazmonemis.lt/

Movie "Everything will be fine" 

Research/Statistics 

Observe current problems and offer professional solutions – this is the IOM’s motto when conducting research 

The Migration Research Division (MRD) based in IOM Headquarters in Geneva implements applied research on "mainstream" migration sectors and migration policy issues to enhance IOM's programme delivery and to enable IOM to serve as the primary reference point on migration. One of the major publications is the World Migration Report.

IOM Vilnius office conducts research relevant for Lithuania and the EU. IOM Vilnius office participates in European migration network (EMN) which is to provide up-to-date, objective, reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum topics to policy makers (at EU and Member State level) and the general public. EMN yearly publishes 3-4 studies on relevant migration and asylum topics as well as presents the newest statistical information. 

More publications can be found at: 

Migrant integration is a complex long-term process encompassing the majority aspect in life of society. In a broader perspective, the migrant integration is a process during which immigrants become a functional part of the society, while retaining their ethnic identity. In order to ensure a smooth and successful mutual agreement process between immigrants and locals, IOM implements a number of various activities worldwide.

IOM activities on migrant integration in Lithuania started in 2000, when the first integration projects for Russian-speaking residents from former Soviet republics were implemented. Since 2008, IOM Vilnius office carries out purposefully oriented trainings, aimed at building intercultural competence among specialists of different fields, for instance: police officers, social workers, child right protection specialists.