The Philippine Embassy in Rome organizes a forum on the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Program implemented by the International Organization for Migration at the Embassy Social Hall on 18 October 2019. (Rome PE photo)

ROME 21 October 2019 - As part of its Assistance-to-Nationals program to extend aid to Filipinos under its jurisdiction, the Philippine Embassy in Rome organized a forum on the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) program of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at the Embassy Social Hall on 18 October 2019.

The resource speakers of the seminar were Dr. Maria Gonaria Demontis and Dr. Chuks Okorie of the Gruppo Umana Solidarietà “Guido Puletti” ONLUS, an Italy-based non-governmental organization that collaborates with IOM and the Italian Government, among others, to assist non-European Union nationals in Italy who wish to return to their countries of origin for good.

The effective implementation of the AVRR program requires the cooperation and participation of a broad range of national and international stakeholders, including the European Union, governments in both host and transit countries and countries of origin, civil societies, and the migrants. These stakeholders act together with IOM in all phases the program beneficiaries undergo - from preparation for return to reintegration. The return and reintegration assistance includes administrative, logistical, and financial support.

The AVRR program is open to regular and irregular migrants in Italy, including victims of trafficking and other vulnerable groups; unaccompanied migrant children; stranded migrants; individuals whose applications for asylum were rejected or withdrawn; or those with health-related needs. The program excludes those with criminal records and those serving jail terms for serious crimes.

Based on an IOM Report in 2018, Italy has been a host country to 3,972 AVRR applications from 2013 to 2018 while 1,236 Filipinos worldwide have availed themselves of the program in the same period. END

In a forum organized by the Philippine Embassy in Rome on 18 October 2019, Dr. Maria Gonaria Demontis (right) and Dr. Chuks Okorie (left) of the Gruppo Umana Solidarietà “Guido Puletti” ONLUS, an Italy-based non-governmental organization, give an orientation on the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Program implemented by the International Organization for Migration in cooperation with various stakeholders. (Rome PE photo)

In a forum organized by the Philippine Embassy in Rome on 18 October 2019, a Filipino Community member (standing) poses questions about the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Program implemented by the International Organization for Migration in cooperation with various stakeholders. (Rome PE photo)