|
UNHCR
recognises that refugees are not always able to return safely home
or to remain in the country where they received asylum. There are
situations in which resettlement to a third country, such as the
United Kingdom, is the only safe and viable durable solution for
refugees.
Thanks
to the generosity of resettlement countries and the tireless endeavour
of local non-governmental organizations, resettlement from the initial
host country to a further country of asylum has become a fundamental
element of the system for the international protection of refugees.
What
is resettlement?
Resettlement generally applies to an individual who is outside their
country of origin and unwilling to return due to a well-founded
fear of persecution (within the terms of the 1951 Convention), but
who is unable to remain in the initial country of asylum, for example
because they have equivalent fear in that country, or because that
country is not able to host a refugee population in safe and humanitarian
conditions. Resettlement therefore acts to address the special needs
of refugees which cannot be met adequately in the first country
of refuge.
Resettlement
under the auspices of UNHCR has a dual character. While it serves
as a tool to ensure the protection of refugees, it is also one of
the three durable solutions intended to bring the plight of refugees
to an end and to provide a sustainable resolution for individuals
in need of international protection. Resettlement is also an important
tool for burden/responsibility sharing.
UNHCR identifies individuals for resettlement in accordance with the criteria defined in the Resettlement Handbook.
Current Resettlement programmes to the UK
Many signatories to the 1951 Convention have resettlement schemes.
The terms and criteria for these vary from country to country.
There
are currently three programmes established by the Government in
the UK. A recognised refugee who meets the criteria established
by the Home Office for that programme might be eligible to resettle
in the UK.
1) Mandate Scheme:
A
mandate refugee is a person who has been granted protection by UNHCR
in another country – as UNHCR has responsibility for the refugee
status determination procedure in some countries (which is carried
out in the United Kingdom solely by the Government). The cases are
nominated for resettlement by the UNHCR branch office closest to
the mandate refugee. The administration of such referrals to the
United Kingdom undertaken by the British
Red Cross.
Each
case is submitted on its merits and must demonstrate
a)
why the individual seeking resettlement qualifies as a refugee;
b) the need for resettlement; and c) a family link in the UK (e.g. spouse, child or parent over 65 years).
2) ‘Ten or More’ Scheme:
This scheme is currently suspended. It previously applied to particularly vulnerable refugees, including those who are medically at risk or are disabled. UNHCR opened up a scheme in 1974, in which countries would commit to allowing in a quota of such special cases per year – the designated number in the UK being ‘ten or more’.
3) The Gateway Programme:
On 29 October 2001 then Home Office Minister David Blunkett, made a statement in the House of Commons, regarding the UK’s intention to expand its resettlement activities. In February 2002, the Home Office declared the creation of a formal ‘Gateway Protection Programme’. The Gateway Protection Programme became operational in April 2003. Since that time over 1000 refugees have been resettled to the UK under the Gateway Programme. The UK Border Agency has recently announced that the quota for resettlement under the Gateway programme will be increased from 500 individuals to 750 individuals annually in the financial year 2008/2009.
Please refer to the Home Office’s UK Border Agency website for further information and updates on Resettlement programmes to the UK.
The UNHCR Resettlement Handbook also contains information about the UK’s resettlement programmes in the annex entitled Country Chapters.
Resettlement
from the UK
There is no resettlement programme from the UK to other countries.
If an individual is interested in making an application to be resettled
to another country from the UK, he/she must contact the diplomatic
mission of the country concerned directly. UNHCR London
will not make a referral to the latter, on behalf of the individual.
It is also important to note that resettlement applies to persons
who have been recognised by refugees (whether by a State, or by
UNHCR in other countries) – individual’s whose asylum
applications have been finally rejected are not eligible.
Useful links to information on Resettlement
- Visit the Resettlement page on UNHCR’s website
- UNHCR Resettlement Handbook
A publication sponsored by the Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees in collaboration with its governmental and non-governmental partners and resettled refugees on resettlement.
- UNHCR Refugee Resettlement Handbook: A Guide to Reception and Integration
The Handbook has been developed as both a planning and professional development resource for those with responsibility for, or an interest in, planning, promoting, developing, implementing and monitoring programs and strategies to facilitate the integration of resettled refugees.
- Background on the ATCR
The Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement provide a forum for Resettlement countries, UNHCR and non-governmental organizations to review progress on resettlement issues and to shape a joint strategy.
- UNHCR Global Resettlement Needs 2008
This document prepared for the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement provides an overview of UNHCR’s projected Global Resettlement Needs and Objectives for 2008. The purpose of this document is to assist both resettlement countries, NGO partners involved in resettlement activities and UNHCR in planning their respective activities and the allocation of resettlement places and resources.
|
