On Friday 27 February a solemn ceremony was held at the Institute of the State Border Committee in Smarhoń to mark the end of a 3-year international cooperation project AM-BEL "Supporting the Republic of Belarus in addressing irregular migration and promoting human rights of vulnerable migrants".
The project supported the Institute of the State Border Committee in the construction and reconstruction of training facilities for border guards. The new facilities contain lecture halls and also dormitories for students.
The project also helped the State Border Committee to develop operating procedures to assist migrants, for example related to the detection of victims of human trafficking or sexual exploitation, as well as minors. These new operating procedures are now in full use.
The project helped to set up a mobile psychological and medical assistance facility, based on a min-van, which can be rapidly made available to provide support to migrants detained at any border.
EU provided the largest share of financing for this project (1.717.179 EUR), while co-financing was also provided by the State Border Committee (241.805 EUR), UNDP (105.742), IOM (58.372) and UNHCR (23.376).
Photo by BelTA, Leanid Shchaglou
