Final Report. Resettlement Program. Output 2C: Sustainable Solutions to the Displaced People Situation along the Thai-Myanmar Border.

Transcription

1 Final Report Resettlement Program Output 2C: Sustainable Solutions to the Displaced People Situation along the Thai-Myanmar Border 8 March 2011

2 Contents of the Final Report Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Desk Review Chapter 3: Asylum Country Research and Analysis Chapter 4: Resettlement Country Research and Analysis Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations

3 Chapter 3: Asylum Country and Results Statistical Findings Applicants Gender Diversity Percentage of D isplaced Persons Resettlement Application Status by Place of Birth Yes No Place of Birth Karen State Karenni State Thanithayi/Tavoy Shan State Mon State Temporary Shelter Other Applied for Resettlement

4 Chapter 3: Asylum Country and Results Statistical Findings - Education level - Years in camp Resettlement Application Status by Educational Level Status by Duration of Stay in the Temporary Shelter Percentage of Displaced Persons Yes No Education Completed No Formal Education Primary in Myanmar Middle in Myanmar High in M yanmar Primary in Shelter Secondary in Shelter Post-10th Course P ercen tag e o f D isp laced P erso n s Yes No Duration in Shelter 1-5 years 6-10 years years Applied for Resettlement Applied for Resettlement

5 Chapter 3: Asylum Country and Results Motivations Push Factors Security Reasons to remain in the camp 13% of respondents express keen interest to return to Myanmar but also concern about human rights / security issues Pull Factors Future Prospects Education Family Reunification Employment Opportunities Freedom/Human Rights

6 Chapter 3: Asylum Country and Results Responding Statistics on the option for resettlement Unsure No Response 17.6% Disagree 13.1% 64.2% Agree

7 Chapter 3: Asylum Country and Results Constraints to the Participation in the Program Status and registration qualifications for resettlement Stall in the registration process Ethnic Identity and Resettlement Decision Ties to heritage and culture Awareness about the Resettlement Program Lack of adequate information Accessibility to Resettlement Process Proper documentation for household Organization involvement RTG frequent dialogue required Ability to Choose Resettlement Country Differing Registration Status with Families

8 Chapter 3: Asylum Country and Results Impacts and Implications of the Program Objectives and Rationale of the Program Establishment of the Program and Future Prospects Impacts on the Program on Participants Preparation life in resettlement country Displaced Persons who Feel Adequately Prepared Vocationally Percentage of Displaced Persons Yes No Unsure Language Confidence Yes No Unsure Feel Adequately Prepared Vocationally for Resettlement

9 Chapter 3: Asylum Country and Results Impacts and Implications of the Program Resettlement location and displaced communities Individual needs and available resources Gender roles Cultural norm (women work, men stay home) Impacts on Remaining Shelter Residence Population size Gender issues concerning expedite resettlement Future resettlement concerns Quotas Advocacy on policy related to resettlement Impact on Resettlement Flow Fraud cases on resettlement

10 Chapter 3: Asylum Country and Results Impacts and Implications of the Program Resettlement location and displaced communities Individual needs and available resources Gender roles Cultural norm (women work, men stay home) Impacts on Remaining Shelter Residence Population size Gender issues concerning expedite resettlement Future resettlement concerns Quotas Advocacy on policy related to resettlement Impact on Resettlement Flow Fraud cases on resettlement Conclusion and Recommendations Positive impact but not a lone durable solution

11 Chapter 4: Resettlement Country Research Analysis St. Paul, Minnesota Largest Karen Community San Francisco, California Urban Area adaptation Post Resettlement Integration Living in a large Karen community and small Karen community Competition for labor Impact of Resettlement Flows / Pull Factor Brain drain to leaders in Camps

12 Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations Future Prospects Promising future for the resettled Karen Role of resettlement (no call for an end but no long-term plans) US Resettlement of Karen Positive response and promising future Concerns on those who are placed in competitive locations Royal Thai Government Response and Policy Requires a collaborative approach that respects every party involved Using national and multilateral means to promote integration of minorities in the border areas

13 Comments and Recommendations

14 The Process and Prospects for Resettlement of Displaced Persons on the Thai-Myanmar Border By Navita Direkwut Ben Harkins Aungkana Kmonpetch

15 1. Resettlement Programme - since 2005, eligible displaced persons applied for third country resettlement - During 2010, 11,107 displaced persons depart for resettlement, bringing the total number of departure to 64,513 since (UNHCR, 2006c, p.8)

16 2. Challenging Resettlement Programme to Become Durable Solutions The populations of displaced persons in the shelters have not decreased even after 5 years Programme is becoming pull factor for resettlement seekers rather than legitimate asylum seekers The rates of application have been lower than anticipated Growing proportion of displaced persons who are ineligible to apply: lack of a functional status determination process to assess their claims to asylum

17 3. Statement of the Problem What resettlement operations have achieved so far in Thailand How the programme can be strengthened to become a more effective durable solutions to the displaced person situation based on an evaluation of the impacts of the resettlement as well as of the motivations and constraints for displaced persons to participate in the programme.

18 Burmese border refugee site with population figures Chiegmai Province WH Wieng Heng (Shan Refugees) 656 Mae Hong Son Province Site 1 Ban Kwai/Nai Soi Site 2 Ban Mae Surin 3713 Mae La Oon Mae Ra Ma Luang Tak Province Mae La Umpiem Mai Nu Po Kanchanaburi Province Ban Don Yang 4397 Ratchaburi Province Tham Hin 8013 Total

19 4. Research Questions Is resettlement a desirable durable solution or simply the only option available from the perspective of displaced persons in the shelters? What are the major constraining or motivating factors determining whether displaced persons participate in the resettlement program? What impact has the resettlement program had on the remaining population in the shelters?

20 5. Research Questions What impact has resettlement had on the influx of new asylum seekers into the shelters and the total number of displaced persons living in the shelters? What are the impacts that resettled displaced persons are having on the situation back in Thailand? What are the gender-based impacts of the resettlement program?

21 6. Research Questions How can the resettlement program be improved to become more effective in result and more responsive to the needs of displaced persons? What role should resettlement play in the future as part of a sustainable and solutionsoriented approach to the displacement situation?

22 7. Study Framework

23 8. Research Approach a broad range of research locations the perspectives of diverse stakeholders for the displacement situation. An evaluation of the integration experience for displaced persons at 2 locations within the U.S., an analysis of the program s impacts for displaced persons within Thailand including socio-cultural, camp management and gender dimensions, and an assessment of the impact of the resettlement program on displacement flows into the shelters.

24 9. Desk Review Of The Resettlement Programme documents related to theoretical foundations of the resettlement solution, documents relevant to the resettlement policies for the border shelters, documents which established the role of important stakeholder organizations, documents which study the resettlement program s implementation and impacts, and documents which make recommendations for adjustments to the program.

25 10. Desk Review Definition and Function of Resettlement Refugee Integration Resettlement Policies in the Border Shelters - UNHCR Resettlement Policies: Eligibility for Resettlement / Submission of Case to Resettlement Country / Consideration of Case by Resettlement Country /Reception and Integration in Resettlement Country

26 11. Desk Review U.S. Resettlement Policies Important Stakeholder Organizations within the Resettlement Program Resettlement Program Implementation UNHCR Resettlement Process Addressing Fraud within the Resettlement Program Resettlement Program Impacts

27 12. Desk Review Impacts on Resettled Displaced Persons - Employment / Housing / Health / Education / Welfare / Language Skills / Religious Organizations / Community Reception / Legal Concerns / Communication / Remittances and Personal Finances / Secondary Migration

28 13. Desk Review Impacts on Remaining Shelter Populations - Overall Depletion of Skilled Workers / Education / Health / Administration / Vulnerable Groups / Emotional State of the Shelters / Expenses and Income / Future Options for Displaced Persons / Shelter Population Totals

29 14. Desk Review Conclusion more limited in revealing the impacts and implications that have resulted the lack of sufficient research on its impacts and implications leaves a gap in the literature which may be partly based upon the international perception of the role of resettlement in Thailand

30 15. Desk Review Conclusion to understand the affect that resettlement is having in Thailand to understand what has been accomplished so far and how the program can be strengthened for improved results in the future To understand the motivations and constraints for displaced persons to participate in the program and the impacts and implications of resettlement for program participants, the remaining shelter populations and new displacement flows into the shelters.

31 Challenge in resettlement issue major impact on camp management, community services and assistance projects supported by NGOs difficult to replace staff especially medics, as there is a small pool from which to choose candidates and the training take more than a year Thai government regulations preventing agencies from taking camp residents to outside institutes for training purposes none of the 11 countries resettling the refugees has expressed interest in covering the costs of training a new cadre of skilled workers

32 Challenge in resettlement issue Lack of information remains a significant problem for the refugees who have to make the choice of whether they want to be resettled Some community-based organization in the camp maintain that resettling countries have initiated little dialogue with them resettling countries should provide a pre-cultural orientation and distribute information through a variety of audio-visual media and in the context and language understood by the refugees.

33 Research Proposition favour for resettlement solution in the third country might be an admiration of a large number of ethnic displaced - young people and the parents including the family members for their fulfillment of reunification, as well as some skilled displaced migrants and many newly arrived displaced persons Nevertheless, the resettlement has still been challenged in serving as durable solution for Burmese displaced migrants not only their attitudes and perceptions towards resettlement assistance but also the institutional apparatus of resettlement process and operation

34 Research Proposition perception on resettlement might have become only the dilemma for many Burmese displaced migrants persons who remain confused to make decision what should be the most appropriate resolution for the duration of their protracted refugee situation resettlement option might has remained only the most possible alternative, but not their most preference and expectation for durable solution of entire forced displaced migrants

35 Resettlement option Many Burmese displaced persons are determined to remain in the camp - with some fear of cultural adjustment, acculturation, family separation etc. Self-settled migrants and new arrivals whose status have not been recognized have not been able to approach the resettlement programme. uncertainity whether the resettlement assistance will be the durable solution for their future - political dimension of ethnicity not every applicants have been successfully to be selected for resettlement

36 Resettlement question why not many displaced migrants have determined to apply to the resettlement programme despite many attempts by UNHCR and humanitarian agencies in campaigning the resettlement programme as the most durable solution; what is their perception about the resettlement how do the existing conditions in making decision to apply for resettlement have been well-responded

37 Resettlement question whether the resettlement programme has given them sufficient relief for those applicants in needed and those non-applicants; and what is their tension in resettlement process etc. whether the Thai government s engagement in comprehensive strategies in partnership with UNHCR and non-governmental agencies does address adequately resettlement assistance What are the obstacles in cohesive and effective manner to reinforce protection principles and enhance the international response to refugee resettlement process

38 Resettlement focus challenges confronting those engaged or not engaged with the managing resettlement assistance inadequacies in the institutional mechanism for refugee protection and relief the resettlement is very challenged by the lack of attitudes of refugee themselves the difficulties of refugees in the resettlement countries in acculturation and assimilation process

39 Resettlement focus various aspects of the resettlement refugee regime in the pre-departure process, exploring in particular the record, challenges and prospects of the UNHCR, humanitarian agencies. governmental institutions how these institutions have assumed responsibility sharing for protracted refugee situation in order to fill gaps in the resettlement refugee regime that were not envisaged at the time of its establishment. how the UN s refugee agency and other humanitarian organizations have been limited in their abilities

40 Resettlement prospect The government s motive for resettlement a few victims of violent social conflict become refugee claiming assistance. availability of resettlement for refugees is conditioned by foreign policy considerations in the receiving countries

41 Comprehensive solution to foster a more critical and realistic understanding of the refugee resettlement, so as to clarify the obligations and limitations of the resettlement assistance towards displaced migrants in great need, and the ways in which these are best implemented. comprehensive solution with resettlement strategy should consider the perceptions and attitudes of refugees themselves particularly their traumatized experiences in prolonged exile truly comprehensive solution should include sustained political, diplomatic, economic and humanitarian engagement in both the country of origin and the country of asylum.

42 Challenge in resettlement issue