Managua – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, made a donation this week of technical equipment to Nicaragua’s General Directorate of Migration (DGME) to improve capacity for fraud detection of false and forged documents among immigration officials of the National School of Migration “Comandante Ricardo Morales Avilés.”

Said IOM Nicaragua Chief of Mission, Paola Zepeda, “With the provision of these equipment, the National School will be able to complete the training programme immigration officials, both of first line and second line, from headquarters and border posts,” adding that one of the main challenges to the prevention of risks associated with smuggling of migrants and their vulnerabilities, is to have on board the best staff and equipment for the identification of forged travel documents.

The donated equipment includes a digital microscope, a scanner for alteration detection, magnifying glasses and devices for forensic analysis, UV lights, and computers.

“In the past, we have been already supportive with the delivery of 100 copies of the Passport Examination Procedure Manual, as well as the printing of supporting documents such as Ethical Codes of Conduct and Guidelines for public employees of the executive branch, the CA-4 Regional Agreement, and documents of operational and gender psychology,” Zepeda noted.

This donation was delivered by the IOM Development Fund to strengthen the institutional capabilities of DGME staff. The contribution fits in the tenth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which proposes to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.

To assure the continuation of this support, it is planned to promote an exchange of experiences and provide training to the headquarters and border posts staff on inspection and detection of false documents, based on IOM Procedure Guidelines.

For more information, please contact: Anabell Cruz at IOM Nicaragua, Tel: +505 22789569 Ext. 110, Email: amcruz@iom.int