Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 30 September 2022

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

MESSAGE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE

2 October 2022

The International Day of Non-Violence celebrates not only Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, but the values he embodied that echo across the decades: peace, mutual respect, and the essential dignity shared by every person.

Sadly, our world is not living up to those values.

We see this through growing conflicts and climate chaos. Poverty, hunger and deepening inequalities. Prejudice, racism and rising hate speech. And a morally bankrupt global financial system that entrenches poverty and stymies recovery for developing countries.

We can defeat these challenges by embracing Gandhi’s values and working across cultures and borders to build a better, more peaceful future for all.

By investing in people’s health, education, decent jobs and social protection to prevent people from falling and catch them when they do.

By ensuring access to financing and debt relief for all countries.

By supporting developing countries as they build resilient infrastructure and protect populations from the impacts of climate change, while also accelerating the transition from planet-killing fossil fuels to renewable energy.

By securing and upholding the rights and dignity of all people — especially the most vulnerable, and girls and women who are too often denied their basic rights.

By taking concrete action for inclusion, recognizing multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic societies as a richness, not a threat.

Gandhi’s life and example reveal a timeless pathway to a more peaceful and tolerant world.

Let us walk this path together, in solidarity, as one human family. 

***

IOM

PRESS RELEASE

Pakistan and Bosnia & Herzegovina affirm cooperation on return and readmission of irregular Pakistani nationals

Islamabad, 30 September 2022 –  Within the framework of IOM’s Western Balkan Readmission Capacity Building Facility (WBCAP), IOM Pakistan and Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH) organised a study visit of senior government officials from Ministry of Security and Service for Foreigners’ Affairs (SFA) of BiH to Pakistan from 27 to 29 September 2022.

In line with the IOM’s Policy on Return, Readmissions, and Reintegration, the visit was facilitated as part of IOM’s support to governments to strengthen overall return management capacities which includes facilitating dialogue and cooperation and strengthening capacities through provision of tools and enhancing knowledge on return and readmission.

The delegation was headed by Mr. Saša Kecman, Advisor to the Minister of Security and included Ms. Šejla Ramović, Senior Expert Associate for Readmission at Ministry of Security, Mr. Mustafa Pašalić, Acting Assistant Minister for Security and Asylum Sector at the Ministry of Security, Mr. Mirsad Buzar, Deputy Director of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, Mr. Muhamed Huskić, Expert Advisor for Security and Deportation Support, Mr. Novica Koroman, Senior Expert for Coordination and Development of IT Systems.

During the three-day visit, the delegation met with senior GOP officials including Mr. Momin Agha, Additional Secretary - Border Management, Ministry of Interior; Mr. Tariq Malik, Chairperson National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA); Mr. Mohsin Butt, Director General, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Ms. Rabia Shafiq, Director General Europe-II, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

Discussions encompassed affirmation of cooperation from both countries on implementation of the readmission agreement between Pakistan and BiH and ensuring safe, orderly and humane return of Pakistani nationals, while taking strict measures to combat crimes of Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) and Trafficking in Persons (TIP).

The visit also helped build a stronger understanding of the Readmission Case Management System (RCMS), a tool developed by IOM and NADRA to process readmission applications of Pakistani nationals from the European Union (EU), and participants discussed next steps in relation to developing a similar digital solution for implementation of readmission agreement between Pakistan and BiH.

For more information, please contact:

In Islamabad:

Sibgha AJAZ, Programme Coordinator – Migration Management, sajaz@iom.int (+92-51-2307841-56)

In Bosnia and Herzegovina

Junaid Arshad KHAN, Regional Programme Officer, jakhan@om.int