The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology
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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
41-44
10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue07-08
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
20 May 2025
ACCEPTED
16 June 2025
PUBLISHED
18 July 2025
VOLUME
Vol.07 Issue07 2025
CITATION
Xolmirzayeva Shoxista Arziqul qizi. (2025). International cooperation
among countries in combating irregular migration. The American Journal of
Political Science Law and Criminology, 7(07), 41
–
44.
https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue07-08
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
International cooperation
among countries in
combating irregular
migration
Xolmirzayeva Shoxista Arziqul qizi
Doctoral student at Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan
Abstract:
Irregular migration poses serious challenges
to national security, economic stability, and human
rights across the world. No single country can effectively
manage or combat irregular migration on its own. This
article explores how countries engage in international
cooperation to address irregular migration through legal
frameworks, bilateral and multilateral agreements, and
collaboration with international organizations. The
study emphasizes the importance of shared
responsibility and coordinated action in promoting safe,
orderly, and legal migration worldwide and also this
article analyzes the international cooperation of the
Republic of Uzbekistan in combating irregular migration,
the existing legal frameworks, and ongoing measures.
Particular attention is paid to regional and global
cooperation mechanisms, bilateral and multilateral
agreements, as well as cooperation with international
organizations.
Keywords:
Irregular
migration,
international
cooperation,
global
security,
migration
law,
international agreements.
Introduction:
It should be noted that in the last decade,
international migration, especially illegal migration, has
become one of the pressing issues on a global scale. This
situation directly impacts the internal security of states,
their economic stability, and the protection of human
rights. Accordingly, to effectively combat illegal
migration, states need to enhance cooperation, and
improve international and regional legal mechanisms.
Irregular migration has emerged as a pressing global
issue, affecting both countries of origin and destination.
It involves the unauthorized movement of individuals
across borders, often in violation of immigration laws
and regulations. This phenomenon is driven by conflict,
poverty, climate change, and inequality, making it a
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The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology
complex
challenge
requiring
international
collaboration. Given the transnational nature of
irregular migration, international cooperation has
become a cornerstone in developing effective and
human migration policies.
1. Legal and Institutional Foundations of International
Cooperation
Countries cooperate on irregular migration based on
both binding international treaties and non-binding
frameworks. Key instruments include:
The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol,
providing protection for asylum seekers.
The United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime (2000), particularly the Palermo
Protocol, targeting human trafficking and migrant
smuggling.
The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular
Migration (2018), the first intergovernmental
agreement covering all aspects of international
migration.
These instruments emphasize shared responsibility,
human rights, and state sovereignty.
2. Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements
Many countries have entered into bilateral labor
migration agreements, return and readmission
treaties, and regional frameworks. Examples include:
EU
–
Turkey Agreement (2016): Turkey agreed to
prevent irregular crossings into Europe in exchange for
financial aid and visa liberalization. The Bali Process
(Asia-Pacific): A regional forum addressing people
smuggling and human trafficking. African Union
Migration Policy Framework: Encourages member
states to harmonize migration policies and border
management systems. Such agreements support
coordinated border control, information exchange,
and return mechanisms.
3. Role of International Organizations
Several global organizations facilitate cooperation:
International Organization for Migration (IOM):
Supports governments in managing migration and
reintegration. UNHCR: Protects refugees and
advocates for their rights in international forums.
INTERPOL and UNODC: Help countries combat human
trafficking networks and criminal groups behind
irregular migration. These organizations offer technical
assistance, data sharing, capacity building, and
humanitarian aid.
4. Challenges in International Cooperation
Despite progress, countries face numerous challenges,
including:
Divergent national interests: Countries may prioritize
security,
economic, or
humanitarian
concerns
differently.
Lack of enforcement mechanisms: Many agreements
are non-binding, limiting accountability.
Limited data and transparency: Weak coordination
hampers real-time responses and policymaking.
Human rights concerns: Some cooperation agreements
may result in migrants being returned to unsafe
conditions.
Addressing these requires trust, consistent political will,
and adherence to international law. At this point, we will
now address the international cooperation of the
Republic of Uzbekistan in combating illegal migration.
Uzbekistan's International Cooperation in Combating
Irregular Migration
It should be noted that, The sharp increase in global
migration flows and the growing risks associated with
irregular migration have emphasized the need for
enhanced intergovernmental cooperation. The Republic
of Uzbekistan has become an active participant in this
global process by engaging in international initiatives
aimed at managing migration and countering illegal
migration.
1.
Legal Foundations for Combating Irregular
Migration in Uzbekistan.
The legal framework of Uzbekistan for countering
irregular migration is based on the Constitution of the
Republic of Uzbekistan, the Law "On Citizenship of the
Republic of Uzbekistan," the Code of Administrative
Responsibility, and the Criminal Code. Notably: Article
223 of the Criminal Code criminalizes unlawful border
crossing and facilitation of illegal entry or exit. The Law
“On External Migration of the Population” (No. ORQ
-
719), adopted on September 15, 2021, defines the
state’s migratio
n policy and serves as a significant legal
instrument. These legal norms are being harmonized
with Uzbekistan’s international obligations and are
continuously improved.
2.
International
Treaties
and
Uzbekistan’s
Commitments
Uzbekistan is a party to key international treaties,
including: The 1990 UN International Convention on the
Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families. The 2000 UN Convention
against Transnational Organized Crime and its Palermo
Protocol on human trafficking. Declarations and
cooperation programs within regional organizations
such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In
2018, Uzbekistan endorsed the Global Compact for Safe,
Orderly and Regular Migration, which reflects the
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country’s commitment to conducting migration policy
based on human rights and security principles.
3.
Practical
Cooperation
with
International
Organizations
Uzbekistan collaborates actively with international
organizations such as the International Organization
for Migration (IOM), UNDP, the European Union, OSCE,
and UNODC on a variety of initiatives: Capacity-
building and technical support projects for migration
management. Regional monitoring and data exchange
on human trafficking. Assistance and reintegration
programs for returning migrants.For instance, from
2020 to 2023, several reintegration projects were
implemented jointly with IOM to support returning
migrants through legal, social, and psychological
services.
4. Regional Cooperation: The Central Asian
Experience
Uzbekistan is also engaged in regional partnerships to
tackle irregular migration, including: The 2006 “Central
Asian Declaration on Combating Human Trafficking.”
The 2022 international conference in Samarkand on
regional migration security.Bilateral agreements with
Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and other key
migration partner countries for regulating labor
migration and addressing irregular flows. These
mechanisms provide a foundation for joint border
management, law enforcement cooperation, and
policy harmonization.
CONCLUSION
Combating irregular migration has become one of the
most pressing issues in contemporary international
relations, and its effective solution is only possible
through interstate cooperation. Analytical findings
demonstrate that while numerous legal mechanisms
—
both universal and regional
—
have been developed to
prevent and regulate irregular migration, their full and
consistent implementation requires more robust
coordination among states.
The Republic of Uzbekistan's foreign policy in this
field
—
particularly its cooperation with international
and regional organizations such as the United Nations,
CIS, SCO, and OSCE
—
demonstrates a systematic
approach to combating irregular migration. The signing
of intergovernmental agreements and memoranda, as
well as the harmonization of national legislation with
international standards, reflects the country’s
commitment to collective action.
In conclusion, strengthening international legal
cooperation between states, enhancing information
exchange, conducting joint operations, implementing
reintegration programs, and aligning socio-economic
development strategies are essential measures to
mitigate the negative consequences of irregular
migration. These actions serve as crucial tools for
ensuring global security and protecting human rights.
Recomendations
Irregular migration is a shared global challenge that
cannot be solved in isolation. Countries must strengthen
international cooperation through:
Greater adherence to existing legal frameworks and
standards;
Increased regional dialogue and joint operations;
Strengthening humanitarian responses to protect
vulnerable migrants;
Promoting development and addressing root causes in
countries of origin.
International cooperation should balance national
sovereignty with global solidarity to ensure migration
governance that is both effective and humane. And also,
Uzbekistan has developed a robust legal, institutional,
and organizational framework for international
cooperation in combating irregular migration. However,
several areas require further attention: Integration with
global migration statistics and monitoring systems;
Strengthening supervision mechanisms in line with
international standards;Expanding the involvement of
local and international NGOs in migration-related
programs. Given Uzbekistan’s increasing role in regional
and
global
security,
deepening
international
cooperation in this field remains a strategic priority.
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