The Challenges of Providing International Protection for Refugees in the Mixed Migration Context

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The Challenges of Providing International
Protection for Refugees in the Mixed Migration
Context

• Marion Hoffmann
• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
• Workshop on Mixed Flows
• Regional Migration Conference
• San José, Costa Rica
• 11 August 2008

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International Protection Regime for Refugees
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International protection principles

• Right to seek asylum.
• Principle of non-refoulement.
• Principle of non-sanction for illegal entry or
  presence.
• Principle of non-discrimination.

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International Legal Framework

• The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of
  Refugees.
• The 1967 Protocol.
• The 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU)
  Convention.
• The 1984 Cartagena Declaration.

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Globalisation.International migration and mixed
migratory flows. Expansion of the international
migration industry human smuggling and
trafficking. Global and regional initiatives
and processes to address migration.
Current context
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Consultation Processes of UNHCR

• Global Consultations (2001).
• Convention Plus and the Agenda for Protection
  (2004).
• High Commissioners Dialogue on Protection
  Challenges (2007).

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• Migration-Asylum Nexus
• Protection Challenges

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Definition of Mixed Migration

• Mixed migratory flows include
• persons who are refugees and need international
  protection
• vulnerable persons who need protection but are
  not refugees and
• persons who move for reasons that are not
  related to protection needs.

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Global Migration
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State Concerns

• Security
• Sovereignty
• Capacity
• Cost
• Local hostility
• Misuse of asylum system (due to lack of
  alternatives)

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State Responses

• Border controls and surveillance
• Interception and interdiction
• Detention and prosecution
• Deportation and return
• Accelerated asylum procedures
• Extra-territorial processing

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UNHCRs Approach

• Recognize state concerns
• Maintain integrity of asylum systems
• Provide protection to those in need
• Safeguard the welfare of non-refugees
• Support capacity-building efforts
• Promote a balanced debate

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• UNHCR Contribution to the Debate
• (I) 10-Point Action Plan on Mixed Migration (June
  2006)
• (II) High Commissioners Dialogue on Protection
  Challenges (December 2007)

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10-Point Plan of Action

• 1. Cooperation among key partners
• 2. Data collection and analysis
• 3. Protection-sensitive entry systems
• 4. Reception arrangements
• 5. Mechanisms for profiling and referral
• ()

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• 6. Differentiated processes and procedures
• 7. Solutions for refugees
• 8. Addressing secondary movements
• 9. Return arrangements for non-refugees and
  alternative migration options
• 10. Information strategy

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(II) High Commissioners Dialogue on Protection
Challenges
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Examples of Good Practices

• Albania
• Horn of Africa
• Somalia Yemen (Gulf of Aden)
• North of Africa the Mediterranean
• Canary Islands and Lampedusa
• Migration in the Americas

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Rescue at Sea

• UNHCR calls upon coastal States to fulfil
  their international obligations under the Law of
  the Sea, and to strengthen coordination and
  cooperation in rescue operations.

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Migration in the Americas (Continental and the
Caribbean)
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Ibero American Summit (November 2006)

• Ibero American states expressed their concern
  regarding refugee protection in the Commitment of
  Montevideo and vowed to ensure access to
  protection, education and health services for boy
  and girl refugees.

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The Caribbean

• Joint regional seminars between UNHCR and IOM.
• IOM and UNHCR cooperation to facilitate
  resettlement, voluntary repatriation and family
  reunification.
• Cooperation between UNHCR and UNICEF for the
  determination of the best interest of the child.
• Refugee law module in the basic training course
  for migration officers in Jamaica.

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• Regional Conference on Migration (Puebla Process)
• Since 1996.
• South American Conference on Migration
• Since 2000.

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Mexico

• Study of unaccompanied minors with international
  protection needs along the southern border of
  Mexico.
• Inter-institutional roundtable on unaccompanied
  or separated minors and migrant women.
• Training and deployment of Child Protection
  Officers.

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Ecuador

• Network against human smuggling and trafficking
  with special focus on minors.
• Information and counselling centre in Quito.
• Training and capacity building.
• UNHCR presence at ports and detention centres.

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Pending Issues

• Challenges and gaps in the international
  protection of vulnerable groups.
• Addressing secondary movements.
• Migration management which focuses not only on
  border control, but also human rights and
  development concerns.
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• Refugee protection as a human rights concept.
• Alternatives to detention for asylum seekers.

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Thank you!

• www.acnur.org
• www.unhcr.org