ICMPD Silk Routes & Budapest Process

⏩ MRC Baghdad at the Baghdad International Book Fair

🗓️ From 2 to 12 September 2026, the Migrant Resource Centre in Baghdad took part in the Baghdad International Book Fair, with the support of the Ministry of Migration and Displaced

💬Throughout the fair, the MRC team introduced visitors to its services, answered their questions and shared information materials. The event also provided an opportunity to learn more about visitors' views and concerns regarding migration and return.

✅ As part of the fair's cultural programme, MoMD and the MRC jointly organised a panel discussion titled "Protecting Youth from the Consequences of Irregular Migration". Led by MoMD and moderated by the MRC, the discussion explored why young people may consider irregular migration and how it can affect their education and employment prospects.

✔️ The panel emphasised the importance of reliable information and preparation for migration, including educational qualifications, language skills, cultural understanding, and practical competencies. It also highlighted the awareness and prevention work carried out by MoMD with the MRC: sessions at public and private universities and youth centres, free counselling, and ongoing engagement with young people.

🤝 Reliable information helps young people understand the risks and make informed decisions about migration.

📍 MRC Baghdad is supported under the Denmark-funded Capacity Partnerships and Access to Information for Sustainable Reintegration of Returnees in Iraq Project, within the Nordic Cooperation on Return and Reintegration framework.

🌍 Pakistan is hosting representatives from Budapest Process countries and partner organisations in Islamabad for the second consecutive year Thematic Working Group meeting on Legal Pathways for Migration.

🇵🇰 🇮🇹 Co-chaired by Italy and Pakistan, the two-day meeting explores how stronger private-sector engagement can support the design, implementation and scaling of skills-based labour migration partnerships.

🤝 The meeting was opened by H.E. Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, and Susanne Raab, Director General of ICMPD.

📌 Discussions are focusing on labour market demand, workforce preparation, skills development and recognition, fair and ethical recruitment and the practical barriers employers face when hiring internationally.

🤝 The meeting supports the implementation of Priority Goal 2 of the 2024 Budapest Process Ministerial Declaration and its Call for Action 2025–2030, which calls for stronger policies and pathways for legal migration and mobility.

⏩ The Budapest Process is funded by the European Commission through the Migration Partnership Facility , as well as by bilateral contributions from Budapest Process countries.

🔗 Discover more about the Budapest Process: www.budapestprocess.org

With: Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and HRD I European Commission I International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) I

Featured Publication of the Month 🎯 Reintegration is a complex process that extends beyond the moment of return, encompassing economic, institutional, and social dimensions.

🎯 Drawing on the experiences of returnees in Bangladesh, Iraq, and Pakistan, the Knowledge Paper explores the economic, social, and psychosocial challenges they face when rebuilding their lives after return.

🎯 The publication highlights barriers such as skills recognition, access to employment and finance, fragmented support services, and the stigma that many returnees continue to encounter, particularly women.

🌍 Developed under the framework of the Budapest Process, the Knowledge Paper presents practical recommendations to strengthen reintegration systems; including improved case management, referral mechanisms, institutional coordination, and community-based support.

📌 By addressing reintegration as a shared responsibility, countries can foster more sustainable outcomes for returnees and the communities they rejoin.

🔗 Read the Featured Publication of the Month at: https://www.icmpd.org/news/reintegration-is-complicated-post-return-challenges-and-experiences-across-countries
🔗 Access the Knowledge Paper at: https://www.icmpd.org/file/download/67982/file/Reintegration%20realities%20post-return%20challenges%20and%20experiences%20across%20countries.pdf?inLanguage=eng-GB&version=2

ICMPD Silk Routes & Budapest Process

📢 On , ICMPD Pakistan joined FIA, UNODC, IOM, UNHCR, ILO, SSDO, IRARA and partners in Islamabad under this year’s theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam.”

💡 The commemoration highlighted evolving forms of trafficking, including trafficking for forced criminality, online scam operations, and other cyber-enabled exploitation. Partners reaffirmed the need for coordinated action to strengthen prevention, victim identification and protection, criminal justice cooperation, the non-punishment principle, and dignified reintegration.

🤝 ICMPD remains committed to supporting the Government of Pakistan, FIA, MOPHRD, international partners and civil society in advancing safe, orderly and regular migration, strengthening institutional capacities, and ensuring that prospective migrants and their families have access to reliable information before they fall into the hands of traffickers, fraudulent recruiters or criminal networks.

Read more:
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