The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Uzbekistan has convened a two-day workshop titled “A data-driven approach to counter irregular migration and migrant smuggling”, bringing together senior representatives from the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the University of Public Safety.

The event focuses on harnessing the power of data, technology, and inter-agency coordination to improve the effectiveness and timeliness of border and law enforcement responses to migrant smuggling. It also serves as a platform to introduce IOM’s innovative Data Exchange Solution for Counter-Smuggling (DESC) initiative – a digital platform designed to strengthen global data sharing and predictive analysis in combating smuggling networks.

Throughout the workshop, participants explored a wide range of key topics, including:

– Advanced tools and technologies for document and identity verification;

– Inter-agency coordination for primary and secondary document screening;

– The legal framework for combating migrant smuggling within the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air;

– The DESC platform, which aggregates irregular migration data from over 30 countries, enabling authorities to track trends, forecast risks, and make data-driven policy decisions.

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The sessions also showcased the DESC Artificial Intelligence and Analytics Dashboard, a system that visualizes smuggling patterns and document forgery trends, helping law enforcement agencies anticipate and prevent cross-border criminal activities.

By promoting data sharing and collaborative technology use, the workshop underscores how evidence-based approaches can significantly enhance border control effectiveness and foster stronger international cooperation in the global fight against migrant smuggling.

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Musulmon Ziyo, Video by Doniyor Yoqubov, photos by Rustam Nazarmatov, UzA