The closing ceremony of the Irregular Migration Management Certification Programme hosted by Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy took place in Ankara on 26 May 2022 within the scope of the joint European Union - Council of Europe action “Strengthening the Human Rights Protection of Migrants and Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings in Turkey.”
Participants from General Command of Gendarmerie, the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy and FIEP member states, alongside the representatives of the Presidency of Migration Management, Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara, European Union Delegation to Turkey, IOM and UNHCR came together on the occasion of the event.
Highlighting that irregular migration as a worldwide problem with global consequences necessitates effective cooperation and solidarity at both national and international levels, Cristian Urse, Head of Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara, pointed out that Turkey has set a good example for other countries by taking effective legal and practical measures against irregular migration at national level and by actively participating in international initiatives on information and knowledge exchange, joint struggle and cooperation on irregular migration.
Levent Özsel, Acting Director of Continuing Education Center Command, provided an overview of the certification programme and extended his thanks to Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara for their support in facilitating the organisation of the event.
Murat Bulut, the President of the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy, explained that Turkey's struggle with irregular migration and the experience gained as a result of effective migration management policies and practices are analysed through academic and scientific studies, adding that the programme had aimed to provide an opportunity to share the results with the international law enforcement community. Highlighting that such large-scale events on irregular migration management contribute significantly to international cooperation and solidarity, Mr Bulut extended his appreciation for the financial and expert support provided by the Action “Strengthening the Human Rights Protection of Migrants and Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings in Turkey” in facilitating the organisation of the certification programme.
The action “Strengthening the Human Rights Protection of Migrants and Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings in Turkey” is implemented within the framework of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.
