3. Political and legal developments concerning migration issues

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1 COUNTRY UPDATE FOR 2010 ICELAND 1. Figures and facts about immigration Please add the percentage of males/females where possible National population: (Males 50,24%, females 49,76%) Percentage of population that are immigrants: 8.9% Estimated number of undocumented migrants: Less than 100. Main countries of origin of immigrants regardless of status Place Country Number of immigrants 1 Poland (36.8%) 2 Lithuania (5.7%) 3 The Philippines (5.2%) 2. Figures and facts about asylum Main countries of origin of asylum seekers for the year: 2010 Place Country Number of asylum applicants Male Female Children 1 Afghanistan Iran Iraq Somalia Macedonia Spain Evolution of the number of asylum applications Difference +/- First applications Rejections Removals Recognitions Proportion of recognitions of all 36,6% 29.4% the decisions (%) Voluntary returns Number of Dublin cases sent back Number of Dublin cases received N/A 2 Add remarks if needed In 2010, 11 asylum seekers withdrew and/or disappeared. In 2009, 8 asylum seekers withdrew and/or disappeared. 3. Political and legal developments concerning migration issues

2 List all the remarkable political and legal changes occurred in your country. List also issues with political/ public concern. Add rows if needed. Political changes (policy programmes, guidelines, etc.) Legal changes (laws, regulations, etc.) Issue Short description Remarks (RC responses, problems related to these issues, etc.) Dublin returns to Greece. Act on Foreigners nr. 96 from In October 2010, the Icelandic government decided to suspend all Dublin returns to Greece following the decision made by Norwegian authorities. Changes were made to the Act on Foreigners in August 2010, and entered into force in September Some important improvements, e.g.: 1. Legal aid guaranteed for unaccompanied minors. 2. Legal aid offered to asylum seekers, almost from the outset of the process (still has to be fully implemented). 3. Legal aid for all asylum seekers in the appeal process, including Dublin cases. 4. Suspensive effects when 1 st instance decisions are appealed to the Ministry of Interior, except for Dublin Cases. Those who fall under DR can request to stay while appeal is being processed. 5. Uniformed status: Subsidiary protection now included in the refugee definition according to Icelandic law. 6. The process from being granted asylum or permit to stay on humanitarian grounds until permanent residence permit has been simplified. 7. Every asylum seeker has a right to get an interview with the Directorate of Immigration before a decision is made. 8. Longer residence permits for refugees, four years instead of the previous three. IRC has since 2008 been requesting the Icelandic authorities to honour the recommendations put forward by UNHCR in April Improvements mostly based upon a report that was published in August 2009 by a committee that was appointed in April 2009 to review the current legislation regarding the processing of asylum applications in Iceland. The Red Cross had a representative on that committee. When the parliament was handling the law proposal, the Red Cross view and comments were largely taken into consideration and some further changes were made according to the influences of the Red Cross. 4. Red Cross activities in the field of migration

3 List all different kinds of activities in order to make it easier to share ideas and good practices among the National Societies. Target Group Type of Activity Short Description of Activity Provider of activity within RC (National Headquarter, regional / local Branch, etc.) Asylum Seekers Visiting service Social Activities Legal counselling This program is still running but is under review since the Act on Foreigners was changed in RC Volunteers visit asylum seekers at the reception centre once a week to chat, meet up, inform of local activities, be there, fight social exclusion etc. Service available since RC Volunteer once a month organizes a social event for asylum seekers in Iceland. Day trips are organized to different parts of Iceland, including volcano tour, ice skating, pizza night, dinner parties, cinema, museums, meeting at coffee houses etc. Service available since In cases where an asylum seeker does not have the right to a legal spokesperson s/he can get assistance from the Red Cross to prepare their asylum application statement, which includes their reasoning and viewpoints, for submission to the authorities. The Red Cross has a group of volunteers that assist asylum seekers, which are either advanced law students or lawyers who have received training in assistance to asylum seekers. A Red Cross volunteer will give information on international refugee laws, as well as European legislation and Icelandic law which concern asylum applications. A Red Cross volunteer does not act as a lawyer on behalf of the asylum seeker but does his utmost to assist in the formation of a clear and organized statement, which includes the reason for claiming asylum for submission to the authorities. The statement is written in the name of the asylum seeker who also signs it. Hafnarfjordur branch of the RC together with the National Headquarters. Hafnarfjordur branch of the RC together with the National Headquarter. Hafnarfjordur branch of the RC together with the National Headquarter. Advocacy This service is available from the outset of the process, i.e. from the initial police interview. Regular talks & meetings with the Directorate of Immigration and Ministry of Interior on asylum issues. The RC submits a yearly report to the Ministry that is very useful to raise issues of concern etc. Headquarters.

4 World Refugee Day Refugees Refugee Committee - resettlement Organized together with Icelandic Human Rights Centre, municipalities and asylum seekers & refugees in Iceland. Music, dance, exotic food, posters, leaflets etc. Has gained quite a lot media coverage. The Red Cross has a member in the Refugee Committee together with representatives of three ministries (MFA, Social Welfare and Ministry of Interior). The Committee makes suggestions for the government of Iceland to accept refugees for resettlement after consultation with UNHCR. The Red Cross is a part of the selection mission, and an implementing partner once the refugees have arrived in Iceland, see below. HQ. HQ and local RC

5 Support families - resettlement The Red Cross volunteers play a key role in the refugee resettlement process through a so-called personal support partner programme. Over a one year period the personal support partners provide the refugees with different kinds of support. HQ and local RC The Red Cross volunteers who are personal support partners give the refugees a warm welcome and assist them in learning their way in the Icelandic society. The role of the personal support partners is characterized by diversity and in fact depends upon each individual. But probably the most important role is to be there when the refugees need them and welcoming them to their new place of living. The personal support partners form ties of friendship with the refugees and are their contact with the local community during the adjustment period. Housing, furniture, and electrical appliances At the outset the Red Cross personal support partners will provide the refugees with basic personal assistance, e.g. by telling them where they can shop for less money and where to find the most common services and schools. The personal support partners will assist the refugees in most of the everyday situations that come up when people move into a new and unfamiliar society, and will answer questions regarding Icelandic culture, customs and habits. Through their role the personal support partners provide the refugees with a feeling of security and a social network in the society, which in turn will support mutual adjustment and success in society. The personal support partners work in close collaboration with the project manager of the Red Cross regional division and the national office and attend regular meetings with them. The receiving municipality makes available apartments for rent to refugees. According to an agreement with the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Red Cross provides basic furnishings and other household appliances that become the property of the refugees.

6 Refugees Asylum seekers and refugees Labour Migrants Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings (VOTs) Undocumented Migrants Other Migrants (e.g. migrants who have moved to country due to marriage or studies and thus cannot be considered as labour migrants) First Aid Course and psychological assistance One year assistance to asylum seekers who have been granted protection in Iceland Restoring family links Advocacy International Parents Youth and the Red Cross The Red Cross makes a special effort to provide psychosocial support and offers a package of group sessions and private interviews where people can come together to discuss their experience of living in Iceland; and talk about the things that have turned out well and which things have not. The municipality offers professional counselling to refugees. Since October 2007, the RC has provided material assistance to asylum seekers who have been granted int. protection in Iceland. This assistance is provided according to an agreement with the Social Welfare and is similar to what is offered to resettlement refugees and includes support families, first aid, furniture, and electrical appliances, and access to Icelandic language courses. Information about the Icelandic Red Cross service in this area A report published in 2010 that gained quite a lot of attention mapping of trafficking in Iceland. International parents will meet weekly with their children during the fall of We welcome parents of all nationalities who have children at the age of 0-6 years, and who want to meet other parents with small children. We regularly offer various other presentations for the parents. We provide refreshments along with toys for the children to play with. Participation is free and everyone is welcome, whether immigrants or Icelanders, and no knowledge of the Icelandic language is required. The goal of the project is to make it easier for immigrant children to adjust to Icelandic society and take active part in it. The idea of the project is to offer useful knowledge about the society that the children and volunteers can both enjoy and make useful. HQ HQ and Hafnarfjordur Branch. HQ HQ Kopavogur branch of the Red Cross and few other Kopavogur branch of the Red Cross, Akranes branch and few other

7 International friends - Women International friends for foreign children One-stop-shop - An Icelandic woman is paired with a foreign woman - The pair establishes a relationship based on equality, meet 1-2 times a month and keeps the relationship going for 6-9 months. - The objective is to open the doors of the community to the foreign woman, break down social isolation and give her support in her daily life. The project also gives the volunteer a new perspective on Icelandic community and an opportunity to get to know a foreign culture. - An Icelandic volunteer is paired with a foreign child. - The pair meets once a week for about 6 months. - The goal is to break down the social isolation of foreign children who do not have a sufficient social network (grandparents, cousins) and encourage their social activity and integration into society. - The volunteer gets to know a foreign child and becomes a part of its support network during the project. Agreement between two RC branches with their local municipalities. Counselling concerning work and residence permits, social assistance, tax info, access to all relevant and necessary information etc. Reykjavik branch of the Red Cross. Reykjavik branch of the Red Cross. Name and contact details of the lead person for migration matters within your National Society: Atli Vidar Thorstensen, project manager. Icelandic Red Cross Efstaleiti 9, 103 Reykjavík Iceland Tel/Fax: / atli@redcross.is