Aussi sur le site de l'Agence des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés, en anglais : UNHCR recommends measures for strengthening security and refugee protection in parallel

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 18 December 2015, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR is today releasing guidance aimed at helping States deal with security concerns while maintaining vital standards of refugee protection.

The recommendations are contained in a paper presented at an inter-governmental meeting by Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Volker Türk. The paper argues that national security and international protection for refugees are not mutually exclusive, and calls for an integrated approach that ensures both goals are being met. Currently, with growing polarization of political debate concerning refugees in some countries, the concern is that asylum-seekers and refugees could be victimized, and refugee protection – which has saved the lives of millions of people since World War Two – could be endangered.

Two important points to bear in mind here are that refugees are themselves fleeing persecution and violence, often including terrorist acts; and that the 1951 Refugee Convention explicitly excludes people who are combatants or who have committed serious crimes.

With border controls, UNHCR understands the need of States to identify security concerns at the point of entry, for example through increased checks, including the use of biometrics such as fingerprints and iris scans. Its recommendations include practical guidance on ensuring that these and other measures are carried out properly and proportionately and subject to judicial control, and avoiding discrimination, for example based on nationality, race, ethnicity, or religion. Applications for asylum must be looked at individually.

With cases involving the exclusion of people for serious criminal or terrorist acts, the paper recommends that a factual and legal assessment be done, if needed, by specialized exclusion units. Guidance is provided on this and related measures, including handling of extradition requests, and detention. It also notes that people providing funds to terrorist organizations could themselves be excluded from refugee status, depending on the individual circumstances.

Registration is a crucial part of the refugee protection process, and UNHCR believes that proper systems for this, plus identity and security screening are essential – including in situations of large-scale refugee influxes. As refugees are people at risk of their lives, information-sharing between States has to be done in line with established principles and standards on data protection.
​
Pour lire l'article en entier : ​http://www.unhcr.org/5673f1176.html