UNHCR

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR

REFUGEES

When was UNHCR created?

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14

Its aim was to complete its work in a 3 year time period and then disband.

The Convention relating to the Status of Refugees was held the following year in

1950

1951

Why was the UNHCR created?

In the late 1940s a UN body was required to oversee global refugee issues. After WWII there was a refugee crisis, with millions of people displaced in Europe

But!!! In the late 1950s, uprisings and conflict led to

UNHCR involvement outside of Europe. As colonies in Africa gained independence in the

1960s, large numbers of refugees fled unstable and cruel governments. Unlike in Europe, these countries usually fled into equally unstable countries.

The purpose of the UNHCR To protect the rights and well-being of

refugees. Ensure that everyone can exercise the

right to seek asylum Be non-political and humanitarian Strive to find permanent solutions for

refugees such as to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.

What does the UNHCR do? Ensures the basic human rights of people in their countries of

asylum Ensures refugees will not be returned involuntarily to a country

where they could face persecution Promotes or provide legal and physical protection, and minimize

the threat of violence Aims to provide at least a minimum of shelter, food, water and

medical care Helps with refugee registration, assistance and advice on asylum

applications, education and counselling. Support returnees with transport home and assistance packages Works with governments to find practical and humanitarian

responses In countries that haven’t signed the Refugee Convention, UNHCR

is generally responsible for protecting refugees.

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1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

It defines a refugee, outlines the rights of refugees

(e.g. freedom of religion and movement, the right to

work, education and accessibility to travel documents), explains what governments should do to protect refugees and a refugee's obligations to a host government.

A key provision states that refugees should not be returned, or refouled, to a country where he or she fears persecution.

It also spells out people or groups of people who are not covered by the Convention.

A total of 147 states have acceded to one or both of the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol.

1967 Protocol

1967 Protocol removed geographical and time limitations.

Prior, only Europeans involved in events before 1 January 1951, could apply for refugee status.

As a result it turned the Convention into a truly universal instrument that could benefit refugees everywhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Ub1FFbfHE

Signatories of 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol

Long term UNHCR solutionsThere are three solutions open to refugees

where UNHCR can help and are known as DURABLE SOLUTIONS

Voluntary repatriation

Resettlement to a third country

Local Integration

Responses to Refugees

4 general responses Refugees should NOT be returned to countries where

they might face persecution – non-refoulment

Strict, fair and swift evaluation of refugee status

Strong and steady financial commitment from the international community (esp. wealthy countries) to alleviate the monetary burden of regions absorbing large flows of refugees

Development of proactive policy measures to stop regional (or potentially global) crisis situations from emerging