(Manama - 17 January 2023). The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in cooperation with the Naif Arab University of Security Sciences (NAUSS), today organized an Arab-region workshop on Legal Identity, Border Security and Safe Mobility.

This workshop follows a new project recently signed between IOM and NAUSS, which is aimed at establishing the region’s first Arab Centre for Technical Cooperation on Migration and Border Management and sets out a comprehensive framework to strengthen technical, legal, operational and policy cooperation in the Arab region.

“The United Nations strategy for Legal Identity continues to guide IOM’s collaboration efforts in the Arab region, noting that identity management remains a critical component of fulfilling the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.” said Othman Belbeisi, IOM Regional Director for MENA, speaking at the workshop. “IOM’s continued commitment aims to support ongoing efforts of relevant authorities from governments of Arab States to ensure a harmonized and coordinated approach on migration and border governance, at a time when states are increasingly looking for technical advice on evidence-driven policies to effectively manage human mobility and enhance identity management.”  

The workshop, hosted by the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Bahrain, brought together over thirty regional government officials and focused on strengthening cooperation on border security and identity management to improve safe migration across the region. The workshop also outlined recommendations on cross border cooperation as well as measures aimed at strengthening access to legal identity, consular support and protection of migrants, and technical capacities of governments in risk analysis, including document verification and use of biometrics technologies.
  

Participants at the workshop represented border and immigration authorities from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Yemen. Local and international experts from IOM, UNICEF, UNOCT, ICAO, and various Arab countries delivered presentations during the event.

The workshop also shed light on key challenges and lessons learnt, while encouraging participants to reflect and build on the recommendations back home, which is vital for enhancing national and regional cooperation on issues of migration management.

Notes to editors:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is part of the United Nations System as the leading inter-governmental organization since 1951 promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, with 175 member states and a presence in over 100 countries. The IOM plays a key role in meeting the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through different areas of intervention that connect both humanitarian assistance and sustainable development.

For more information please contact:

Mr. Mohammedali M A ABUNAJELA

E-mail: mmabunajela@iom.int