Rights based Border Management in the Silk Routes Countries (RBM Silk Routes)

The RBM Silk Routes project is funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development with the overall objective to implement sustainable, rights-based, border management practices in Iraq and Pakistan towards increasing border management and security and reducing irregular migration.

Specific objective

To enhance border management in Iraq and Pakistan by strengthening the capacities of border management institutions in planning both the border control and reaction to crisis situations based on risk analysis.

Rights based approach

The action will contribute to strengthening the capacities of Iraqi and Pakistani agencies and authorities responsible for borders and migration management, reinforcing their role as duty bearers to uphold the rights of migrants transiting national borders.

The project will integrate a RBA in a context-specific manner throughout all activities, adapting individual activities to support beneficiaries in understanding and applying a human-rights based approach as an integral and integrated aspect of their work on border management, risk analysis and contingency planning.

Expected outcomes

  • In Iraq:
    • The project will build upon the strategic priorities of the Government of Iraq through the development of a Risk Analysis framework, capable of integrating long-term strategic contingency planning at the central level, with medium and short-term operational planning – at tactical and operational level. These outline the specific roles, responsibilities, tasks and actions required during contingencies.
    • The project’s support to improve risk analysis and contingency planning will also facilitate the identification of potential rights’ violations against vulnerable groups, such as specific modus operandi and profiles that may be associated with exploitation, human trafficking or groups requiring referral to specialised services at border crossings.
  • In Pakistan:
    • The project will firstly establish a Document Laboratory (3rd level of control) and, secondly, expand the application of a 2nd line of control to a number of high-priority border crossing points (both at air and land border crossings).
    • The project will contribute to improvements in the operational functioning of these border crossing points, but shall also have a multiplication effect via the institutional and nation-wide enhancement of capacity to collect and exchange information at the strategic level on trends and challenges in the area of document security.
    • The FIA Document Laboratory will be instrumental in the examination, analysis and verification of all types of documents, including but not limited to passports, visas, and currencies, birth, death, marriage and educational certificates, as well as improving the security features in national ID documents.

Key Beneficiaries

  • Iraq: Ministry of Interior (and its relevant agencies/entities), Border Ports Commission.
  • Pakistan: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)


Project Duration
36 months (1 January 2022 – 31 December 2024)

Funded by