CDO and ICMPD’s Migration Awareness and Support Project aims to raise awareness about illegal immigration and promote safe migration pathways. Civil Development Organization (CDO), in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Migration Resources Centre (MRC), has been conducting various activities, including seminars, open discussions, and awareness sessions, to educate individuals, especially youth, about the risks of irregular migration, human trafficking, and the benefits of legal migration opportunities.

1. The project has organized multiple seminars and awareness sessions, targeting youth, students, and community members in different districts, such as Dukan, Pshdar, and Raparin, where discussions focused on the dangers of illegal immigration and the importance of safe migration routes.

2. A key component of the project is the Migration Call Center, which continues to provide free consultation services to those seeking information about migration processes, safe migration pathways, and the available legal alternatives to irregular migration.

3. In collaboration with ICMPD and MRC, the project has also included awareness-raising sessions that addressed human trafficking, illegal migration, and how these practices affect individuals and families in the long term. These sessions also explore reintegration programs for individuals who return home after illegal immigration attempts.

4. The project has facilitated open discussions in universities and institutions in Sulaymaniyah, where students and young people were informed about the risks of using smugglers and illegal migration routes, and introduced to local and international educational and work opportunities.

5. Collaboration between university professors, government agencies, journalists, and social researchers has strengthened the project’s impact by creating a shared knowledge base that promotes safe and legal migration alternatives, reducing the inclination towards illegal migration.

6. A series of discussions also focused on raising awareness about the importance of community-based support and government policies in providing safe migration pathways. CDO’s partnership with local authorities and community leaders has been key in addressing migration challenges effectively.

7. The project continues to foster collaborations and expand its reach by organizing additional workshops, seminars, and training sessions aimed at equipping service providers, local authorities, and community members with the knowledge to support safe migration, discourage irregular migration, and promote community reintegration for returnees.

Through these initiatives, CDO, ICMPD, and MRC are working together to create a well-informed community that is better equipped to make decisions about migration, reducing the risks associated with illegal immigration and promoting safe and sustainable migration pathways.