What is Refugee Resettlement? Resettlementis a tool to provide international protection and meet the specific needs of individual refugees whose life, liberty, safety, health or other fundamental rights are at risk in the country where they have sought refuge. Emergency Resettlement of Protection Cases. Medical urgencies and other protection needs (victims of torture, sexual violence, disabled refugees)
What is Refugee Resettlement? Resettlement is a durable solutionfor larger numbers or groups of refugees, alongside the other durable solutions of voluntary repatriation and local integration.. Out of the 10.5 million refugees under the mandate of UNHCR, some 7.2 million worldwide continue to live in exile for more than 5 years. Resettlement can bring new hopes to these protracted refugees. Resettlement can also be used strategically to leverage wider protection and solutions benefits to refugees not being resettled.
A Global Perspective on Resettlement 172,000 refugees in need of resettlement in 2012 (UNHCR global needs estimate); Available resettlement places remain at some 80,000 individuals per year; Main groups of refugees in need of resettlement (2012): Iraqis (Middle East), Somalis (Kenya), Afghans (Iran & Pakistan) Other main resettled groups: Other main resettled groups:myanmarese (Thailand, Malaysia) and Bhutanese (Nepal)
Resettlement Countries: 2011 Resettlement Departures Country of resettlement Departures (persons) United States Canada Australia Sweden Norway Denmark Finland Netherlands New Zealand United Kingdom All others 43,215 6,827 5,597 1,900 939 598 543 479 457 430 232 Grand Total 61,231
Resettlement in the EU. 2007-2011 Resettlement Departures
European quotas Established resettlement countries New resettlement countries DK FI NL SE UK F P CZ RO DE BE 500 (3 X) 750 500 (3x) 1900 750 300 (e) 30/ 40/ 40 300 100
Resettlement in Europe the asylum context Country Asylum seekers (average annual arrivals) Resettled refugees (annual quotas) UK 23,715 750 (0.03% of spontaneous asylum arrivals) France 52,725 300 (0.005%) Sweden 31,875 1900 (0.05%) Germany 48,940 300 (0.006%) Refugees (annual postive decisions) 6440 5095 8510 10,445 Total EU 258,945 6039 55,460
North Africa, the Crisis in Libya. o o o 2011 Global Solidarity Resettlement Initiative, serving the three functions of resettlement. Situation in border regions of Tunisia and Egypt with Libya: 5,000 refugees submitted for resettlement(3,000 in Shousha, Tunisia and 2,000 in Saloum, Egypt); o Nine EU Member States out of a total of 13 participated. Top intakes by USA (expected 3,500 70 %), Norway (485) and Sweden (350). Other EU: Belgium, Finland, Germany, Netherlansd, Spain. o Departures October : 1,700 from Shousha (including embassy procedures Switzerland and Canada) and 250 from Saloum o.
Current designated Priority Situations for the Strategic Use of Resettlement Kenya (Somali Refugees) Iran and Pakistan (Afghan Refugees) North Africa emergency ex-libya (subsaharan African Refugees) Turkey (Iranian and Iraqi Refugees) Syria, Jordan and Lebanon (Iraqi Refugees) Ecuador, Costa Rica (Panama, Venezuela) (Colombian refugees) Non-priority but strategic use: Eastern Sudan, Nepal
The way forward and the contribution of the EU Joint Resettlement Program Expand the basis for resettlement by increasing places and countries; Increase the targeting of priority situations through the strategic use of RST in protracted situations; Enhance RST as a response to urgent protection needs, including in emergencies and crisis situations; Invest in reception and integration of resettled refugees with focus on capacities, resources and measuring outcomes.
Linking in EU Resettlement IOM UNHCR ICMC Build towards an EU resettlement network (www.resettlement.eu) exchange between EU stakeholders (governments, NGOs, Cities and regions) + capacity building and training LI database includes over 2,000 interested parties Improve resettlement knowledge, planning and exchange + promote government- civil society partnerships between actors to strengthen planning and delivery of resettlement programmes. Engage actors at earliest stage - to prepare reception and integration of resettled refugees. Promote more and better resettlement : resettlement Saves Lives 20 000 in 2020
Enhancing resettlement capacity in Europe
The 2020 Campaign www.resettlement.eu
Inspired by the Save Me Campaign in Germany Numerical target: 20 000 by 2020 Quality Reception and Integration Like Save Me resttlement Saves Lives collects: pledges from local community members willing to volunteers to assist resettled refugees
ACTIVITIES NETWORK European Skills Share Day Look and Learn Visits to other resettlement countries: Example Visit to Denmark City exchange visits to Sheffield (October 2012 with NRW Aachen, Krefeld, Düsseldorf and Aprilwith München/Bayern) Promote cooperation between local authorities + NGOs Promote more knowledge on how to manage a resettlement quota Better reception and integration + permanent residence status
EUROPEAN QUOTA S In EU most refugees are selected during selection missions (Burmese, Bhutanese, Iraqi s, Congolese). Dossiers by DK (100), Sweden (800), Finland (100), France (only dossiers), Netherlands (100). More multi-annual quotas to promote flexibility and respond to developments (three year -1500 NL/DK) Dossiers for emergency/urgent/medical cases + where selection missions are not possible (Shoucha). Dossier selection -more flexibility/ speed/ meeting protection needs world wide. Lower approval rates
Good Practice - Swedish quota 1900 departures (2008 quota figures) Selection Missions Iran 200 Thailand 150 India 200 Congo Brazaville 100 Syria 300 Total 950 Urgent and emergency cases Ukraine, Central Asia, North and South Africa Dossier Cases Malaysia 50 Lebanon / Jordan 50 Turkey 50 Ecuador / Costa Rica 50 Total 800 300 (ca 100 + 200) 300 (ca 50 + 250)
Promote better integration support for resettled refugees in Europe Permanent residence status + access to citizenship for resettlement to be a truly durable solution Municipalities involved in reception & integration for resettled refugees both obligatory and voluntary; often within same integration provision as for other refugees & family Geographical distribution - in or outside larger towns Integration programs : 1 to 3 years Personalised Integration Plans (PIPs) recommended, involving different actors & tailormade for individual refugee s needs & aspirations Fostering independence welfare state approach
Integration challenges in Europe Political & social climate far-right electoral gains; lack of political will to engage in positive public discussions about migration; racism & xenophobia Financial and economic restrictions particularly affecting local government Time-limited integration interventions - phasing out of support can adversely affect vulnerable refugee & migrant groups Marked differences in the level of resourcing for integration in different Member States Increased focus on integration obligations ao. language-learning Confused public debate about migrants & refugees conflated migrant categories; same migratory routes, nationalities & backgrounds Same challenges for all refugees (resettled & spontaneous arrivals) & other migrants in Europe
Herausforderungen für DE Statusfrage: AE nach 23 Abs. 2 AufenthG vs Flüchtlingsstatus Verständnis wecken: Integrationsanstrengungen lohnen sich auch bei kleinen Zahlen! Bessere Zusammenarbeit zwischen den verschiedenen Akteuren, vor allem auf kommunaler Ebene Resettlement als Chance für das Ausprobieren nutzen! Mehr Flüchtlingsgruppen in das Resettlement einbeziehen Kein Ausspielen von Resettlement gegen Relocation Erfahrungen aus anderen Ländern nutzen!
Danke für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit! Stefan Keßler, JRS Europe www.resettlement.eu